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Parastatal JV plans offshore drilling; Clov tenders line up; ExxonMobil seeks MTPS farm-out; Seplat completes Niger Delta purchase

Former Algerian energy and mines minister Chakib Khelil, now in private practice with consultancy company Mantral, has joined Calgary-based Wilton Resources as a senior adviser. The Canadian start-up’s ambition is to “become a significant international oil and gas player through the acquisition and development of high-impact world class assets”.

Guinea offshore operator Hyperdynamics said on 16 December it was in talks with a new potential partner for its 25,000km2 concession

BP has given Aberdeenshire-based Proserv a contract to design and manufacture a subsea sampling system for the PSVM field development on Block 31. Proserv said the PSVM scheme, with a water depth of 2,000 metres, was believed to be the deepest offshore project in Africa. The sampling system will be designed, manufactured and assembled in Scotland.

Australia’s Rialto Energy has awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract to Petrofac for the Gazelle field development in Block CI-202.

Australia’s Jacka Resources has signed a production-sharing agreement (PSA) for the onshore Ruhuhu Block. The PSA for the 10,343 km2 block has an initial exploration period of four years, with a work programme including the acquisition of airborne gravity and magnetic data, the acquisition of a minimum 400km of seismic and one exploration well. Jacka was set up by former Hardman Resources executives, led by chairman Scott Spencer.

AIM-listed Sirius Petroleum has announced a financial and technical services agreement with Owena Oil and Gas and Guarantee Petroleum Company for a proposed investment in the Ororo marginal oil field in OML 95.

Italy’s Eni is expected to spud the RD-1 well on the Rabat Deep Offshore exploration permit in March 2018, using the Saipem 12000 drillship. Partner Chariot Oil & Gas, which transferred the operatorship to Eni in January 2017, said the JP-1 prospect targeted by the well had audited gross mean prospective resources of 768m bbls.

Inhabitants of Benghazi have threatened to hold large demonstrations on the anniversary of the protest that led to the fall of the Qadhafi regime and it is far from certain that government proposals will be enough to placate their anger at the lack of economic development, writes John Hamilton

Nigerian independent Lekoil has increased its stake in OPL 310 and the Ogo oil discovery by agreeing to buy bankrupt former partner Afren’s 22.86% stake for $13m in cash. Lekoil acquired the stake through the acquisition of Afren Investments Oil and Gas Ltd, and $150m of intra-group loans from Afren Plc and Afren Nigeria Holdings Ltd for a total $13m. The acquisition takes Lekoil’s interest in OPL 310 to a 40% participating interest and 70% economic interest. Operator Optimum Petroleum Development Company holds the other 60%.

OMV Tunisia is seeking a partner for the offshore Sidi Mansour exploration permit The 6,592km2 block lies in the northern part of the Gulf of Gabes, adjacent to the producing Cercina and Chergui oil and gas fields.

ConocoPhillips has farmed into offshore acreage held by Australia’s FAR, agreeing to fund an exploration well. Following a farm-in from Cairn Energy agreed in March, FAR is now fully funded for two exploration wells with an investment of $190m, and an exploration drilling programme is expected to start in H1 2014. Under the terms of the agreement, which is subject to government approval, ConocoPhillips will take a stake in the Rufisque, Sangomar and Sangomar Deep blocks.

Ousted from Hyperdynamics, the Guinea player’s former chief

BP and Kosmos Energy on 21 December announced a final investment decision for Phase 1 of the groundbreaking Greater Tortue Ahmeyim gas project. Kosmos said the decision was made with BP and the two state oil companies, Petrosen and Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier, following a meeting to agree final elements held in Nouakchott between President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania and President Macky Sall of Senegal.

Côte d’Ivoire has escalated a simmering border row with Ghana by demarcating new blocks that overlap with Ghana’s western acreage. A map displayed by state oil company Petroci at Global Pacific & Partners’ Africa Upstream conference showed atriangle of new acreage offshore eastern Côte d’Ivoire, blocks CI-540, CI-541, CI-542, CI-543, and possibly the ultra-deep CI-544, that appear to stray into areas licensed by Ghana. “The government has directed us to demarcate these blocks. Thisis because of Ghana’s earlier demarcation,” a Petroci spokeswoman told African Energy. “They claimed more than they should by international law. There is a dispute and there are discussions between the governments.”