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AFRICA

Eni makes 1 Bboe presalt find offshore Congo

Eni has made a new oil discovery in the Minsala Marine exploration prospect in the Marine XII Block offshore Congo 35 km (22 miles) from the shoreline and 12 km (7 miles) from the recent Nenè Marine discovery, Eni said in a news release. The discovery was made through the Minsala Marine 1 well. Eni preliminarily estimates the potential of Minsala Marine discovery at about 1 Bboe in place, of which 80% is oil, the release said. Eni through its own subsidiary Eni Congo SA is operator of Marine XII with a 65% stake.

Survey confirms viability of leads in Chad

Preliminary findings from an airborne gravity/magnetic survey of BDS 2008 in southern Chad confirm the viability of leads in two focus areas identified by ERHC’s technical team after analysis of previously collected data, ERHC Energy Chad said. The aerial survey evaluated the hydrocarbon potential within ERHC’s Block BDS 2008 in the area north of Esso’ Tega and Maku discoveries in the Doseo Basin and a second area east of and on trend with OPIC’s Benoy-1 margin discovery in the Doba Basin, the release said.

AUSTRALIA

Statoil gains offshore operatorship in Australia

Statoil has been awarded a 100% equity share in a large exploration permit located in the prolific Northern Carnarvon Basin on the Northwest Shelf of Australia, the company said in a press release. The permit WA-506-P covers an area of more than 13,000 sq km (5,019 sq miles) situated 300 km (186 miles) off Western Australia in water depths of 1,500 m to 2,000 m (4,921 ft to 6,562 ft). Statoil has committed to collect 2,000 km (1,243 miles) of 2-D seismic and 3,500 sq km (1,351 sq miles) of 3-D seismic data within three years.

ASIA-PACIFIC

CNOOC finds oil, gas in Bohai

CNOOC Ltd. made a mid-to-large discovery in the Jinzhou 23-2 structure in Bohai offshore China, according to a press release. Jinzhou 23-2 structure is located in the north part of Liaodong Uplift of Bohai. The well Jinzhou 23-2-3 was drilled and completed at a depth of 1,097 m (3,600 ft) and encountered oil and gas pay zones with a total thickness of 68.4 m (224.4 ft). The oil production of the well was tested at about 260 bbl/d. The exploration success of Jinzhou 23-2 not only demonstrated the structure belt has excellent reservoir quality but also proved good exploration prospects in the north part of Liaodong Uplift.

Eni strikes gas offshore Indonesia

Eni has made a gas find in the Merakes exploration prospect in the East Sepinggan Block, where the company is operator with a 100% stake, according to a news release. The block is located offshore East Kalimantan (Borneo), 170 km (106 miles) south of the Bontang LNG Plant and 35 km (22 miles) from the offshore Jangkrik Field, also operated by Eni. The find was made through the Merakes 1 well, which was drilled at a water depth of 1,372 m (4,501 ft). The well encountered a significant accumulation of gas in the lower Pliocene clastic sequence. Merakes has crossed a hydrocarbon column of 60 m (197 ft) in high-quality sandstones.

GULF OF MEXICO

Repsol makes oil find in GoM

Repsol has made a new discovery of high-quality oil in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the company said in a news release. The find was made 352 km (219 miles) from the Louisiana coast in an ultradeepwater well named León, located in Keathley Canyon Block 642. The well found more than 150 m (492 ft) of net oil pay within a column of more than 400 m (1,312 ft). The well was drilled in water 1,865 m (6,119 ft) deep and reached a total depth of 9,684 m (31,772 ft).

Hess plans Stampede Field development

Hess Corp., together with its project co-owners, will proceed with the development of Stampede, an oil and gas project operated by Hess in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, according to a press release. The plan initially calls for six subsea production wells and four water injection wells from two subsea drill centers tied back to a tension-leg platform. A two-rig drilling program is planned, with the first rig commencing operations in fourth-quarter 2015. First production is expected in 2018.

SOUTH AMERICA

Petrobras hits hydrocarbons in Espírito Santo Basin

Petrobras has made a discovery of a hydrocarbon accumulation in the deep waters of the Espírito Santo Basin post-salt by drilling well 4-BRSA-1265-ESS/4-GLF-42-ESS, known as Lontra, at a water depth of 1,319 m (4,327 ft), according to a press release. The well, which is 81 km (50 miles) offshore the city of Vitória in Espírito Santo state in Brazil and lies within the Golfinho concession area, confirmed the presence of gas and condensates as supported by log data and cable tests.

First Libra well confirms oil discovery

The first extension well in the Libra area, known as 3-BRSA-1255-RJS (3-RJS-731), has proven the discovery of high-quality oil in the northwest portion of the structure, the Libra consortium said in a news release. The well is located in the presalt Santos Basin about 170 km (106 miles) off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro and about 4 km (2 miles) southeast of the discovery well, 2-ANP-2A-RJS. The oil-bearing interval was observed by means of fluid profiles and samples, which will subsequently be characterized through laboratory analysis.

MIDDLE EAST

Kurdistan approves Akri-Bijeel FDP

The field development plan (FDP) for the Akri-Bijeel Block in Kurdistan has been officially approved by the Minister for Natural Resources, according to a press release from MOL Group. The FDP relates to two commercial discovery areas in the Akri-Bijeel block, the Bijell and the Bakrman areas. MOL Kalegran Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of MOL, is the operator of the Akri-Bijeel Block. The FDP is based on two commercial discovery areas. The development will be done in two phases.

EUROPE

Total sells interests in Gina Krog, other Norway fields

Total’s wholly owned subsidiary Total E&P Norge AS has signed an agreement to sell to PGNiG Upstream International an 8% interest in the Gina Krog Field in Norway together with its interests in the mature fields of Vilje (24.243%), Vale (24.243%) and Morvin (6%), Total said in a press release. The consideration for the transaction is $317 million, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2014. The transaction is subject to the approval of the Norwegian authorities. Following the sale, Total E&P Norge AS will retain a 30% interest in the Gina Krog Field alongside Statoil (58.7%) and Det Norske (3.3%).

GDF Suez, BP discover central North Sea Field

GDF Suez E&P UK Ltd. and BP have made a new exploration discovery in the U.K. Central North Sea. The discovery, which spans GDF Suez-operated Block 30/1f (License P1588) and BP-operated Block 30/1c (License P363) was flow-tested at a maximum rate of 5,350 boe/d. The discovery, referred to as Marconi by GDF Suez and Vorlich by BP, is located in the Central North Sea. Exploration well 30/1f-13AZ encountered hydrocarbons in a Palaeocene sandstone reservoir in Block 30/1c (License P363 operated by BP), and a subsequent side -track into Block 30/1f (License P1588 operated by GDF Suez) confirmed the westerly extension of the discovery.