Search results

Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom has said it will invest $120m in exploration of the El Assel perimeter, which it secured in the seventh bid round on 13 December.

ANGOLA: Pipelines contract for LNG plant; ANGOLA: Technip to expand Angoflex; GHANA/CAMEROON: USTDA study; MADAGASCAR: Enermad farms out to Niko Resources; MOROCCO: Canamens takes Essaouira blocks; NAMIBIA: Key pulls out; SIERRA LEONE: Elixir takes over after Prontinal fails to pay; UGANDA: Tower farms out Area 5; UGANDA: Heritage spuds Giraffe

Still in expansion mode despite the global downturn, Italy’s Eni has returned to Gabon, acquiring six new exploration licences covering more than 8,000km2 offshore and onshore.

Sharjah-based Dana Gas has announced a gas and condensate find at its El Basant-2 well in the Nile Delta, 1.4km north-east of the El Basant-1 discovery (previously known as El Tawil-1) in the West El Manzala Concession.

Operator Heritage Oil has spudded the Giraffe well in the Butiaba region of Block 1, following the Warthog and Buffalo discoveries on the same block. Giraffe-1 is located 5km south-west of the successful Buffalo-1 well, which encountered a gross hydrocarbon-bearing interval of some 123 metres with net hydrocarbon pay of 43 metres. Buffalo-1 is the fifth successful test of the Victoria Nile delta play fairway within the Lake Albert Rift Basin and was drilled 16km north-east of the Warthog-1 and Kasamene-1 discoveries.

People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has signed oil and gas exploration co-operation agreements with Taiwan’s CPC Corporation.

Total E&P Nigeria Ltd (TEPNG) has struck oil with the Etisong well in the south-eastern corner

As Ghana’s new president prepares to join the ranks of African oil producers, the International Finance Corporation has disclosed plans to help finance Kosmos Energy’s share of the development costs of the Jubilee field.

Like so many frontier explorers confronted by the credit crunch, the group looking for oil in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Republic of Puntland are facing an uphill task to keep funding ticking over. But Australian minnow Range Resources and Canadian farm-in partner Africa Oil Co

Australia’s Elixir Petroleum has taken over its partner’s stake in Block SL-4 following its failure to pay its share of seismic costs. Elixir issued a notice of default to Prontinal in late September, but was unable to get it to pay the $9m owed. Elixir took over operatorship in February and contracted a 3D seismic survey, which was completed in June. The block was originally awarded to US-based real estate company 8 Investments, sole bidder in the 2002 licensing round.

Operator Addax Petroleum has acquired another 18.75% in the Gryphon Marin block, bringing its holding to 68.75% before third-party back-in options.

The breakaway Republic of Somaliland’s reputation as an unusually peaceful haven in the Horn of Africa was shattered by recent suicide bomb attacks, but oil companies say they are committed to what remains a highly prospective area. Both Prime Resources and Asante Oil have reconfirmed their commitment to operate in Somaliland, following three separate suicide bomb attacks

Total has announced positive results for the Moho Nord Marine-3 well in the northern part of the Moho-Bilondo licence

Seadrill rig contract; IPR scores Jurassic discovery in Western Desert; Sea Dragon drills on Dahab North; Kiarsseny farm-in deal; Hyedua appraisal success; Taoudeni drilling to start next year; JV proposed with UAE company; Second gas find for Circle; Data facility; EAX in exploration deal; Kingfisher appraisal success

Philippe Edmonds’ White Nile Ltd has announced plans to change its name to Agriterra and focus on African agriculture, following its problems in the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) region. “Due to certain situations beyond the control of the board, including the fluctuating political situation in Southern Sudan and the current global economic downturn,