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With IOCs pulling out, plans for a refinery on hold and independence for South Sudan in prospect, Sudanese hydrocarbons look troubled

San Leon Energy has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (Onhym) for the 6,000km2 Tarfaya oil shale project.

Africa Oil Corporation (AOC) has sold a 25% stake in its operator licence in the unrecognised Somali Republic of Puntland’s Nogal and Dharoor areas, covering 81,000km2 to Canadian minnow Raytec Metals Corporation. Raytec’s first venture into oil and gas exploration also includes it buying into AOC’s Kenyan acreage.

UK private company Wessex Exploration plans to list on London’s PLUS market by 1 September. The PLUS market is proving popular with minnow oil companies looking to raise funds – the UK-based Africa Oil Exploration Plc listed in January 2008 raising £1.03m (AE 142/16).

New find on Block 31 Sonangol and BP have announced an 18th discovery on ultra-deep Block 31 with the Oberon-1 well. Located in the southern part of the block some 4.3km north-east of the Dione discovery,the well was drilled in a water depth of 1,624metres, reaching a total depth of 3,622 metres. Test results confirmed the capacity of the reservoir to flow more than 5,000 b/d under production conditions.First oil from Morsa West Process system integrators DPS have announced the start of oil production from Sonangol’s shallow water Morsa West field. The marginal field development project was awarded to Angola Drilling.

Canada’s Epsilon Energy has converted its study agreement into a production-sharing agreement (PSA) with the Ministry of Mines and Energy for an area of 79,345km2 in north-west Ethiopia (AE 147/18).

An early draft of a new hydrocarbons law was presented in late March by senator Fidèle Sulubika, but still awaits amendments to include elements drawn from the legislation of other African countries such as Angola, Nigeria and Algeria.

ADDAX PETROLEUM: Gabon farm-in as income plunges; TOWER RESOURCES: Uganda drilling, AIM placing

ALGERIA: Orascom contracts for El Merk CPF; ALGERIA: Petroceltic drilling; NIGERIA: Usan order for Nexans; RWANDA: Vangold granted 90-day extension; SENEGAL: Shell-funded CSEM programme under way

Namibia has yet to meet the expectations of those who believe its geology holds hydrocarbons riches, from the Kudu gas field to potential offshore oil fields. Now there are hopes that Petrobras’ arrival as farm-in partner on Chariot’s offshore acreage will transform the country’s search for oil and gas, writes Eleanor Gillespie.

Norway’s InterOil Exploration & Production has signed an agreement with Iran’s Petropars to sell 10% in the CabindaNorth licence for $7m. The 2,400km2 block is operated by Sonangol P&P and InterOil farmed-in in January 2008, taking21%. The block has existing oil discoveries in the Zila ridge area near the coast and in the Dinge high area. Sonangol has 20%;other partners on the block are SOCO International with 17%, Teikoku Oil Company (17%), Angola Consulting Resources(Acrep) (15%) and Eni Angola (10%).

Gas drilling slow but set to takeoff towards year-end

Egas has awarded four out of seven offshore blocks in its latest bidding round, while a string of new finds sets the stage for EGPC’s June licensing round, writes Nadine Marroushi. The state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (Egas) has awarded four deep-water offshore exploration blocks to IOCs who submitted bids in early February for acreage in the gas-prone Mediterranean Sea. BG Group won the 281km2 Block 1

ATWOOD OCEANICS: Rig for RWE; CIRCLE OIL: Libya Oil Holding man appointed to board; DANA GAS: Appointments; TRANSOCEAN: Rigs stacked

While the Jubilee field is being fast-tracked to first oil next year, approval of the development plan has been proceeding rather more slowly