Onshore oil exploration in the Cabinda Norte block is set to begin in 2025, according to Idonio dos Santos, administrator for ACREP – Exportacao Petrolifero S.A. Speaking to the press after a project presentation ceremony in Cacongo, Cabinda, dos Santos confirmed that all bureaucratic hurdles for the project have been cleared, including the opening of roads and the construction of a shipyard. The next phase of the project will involve research aimed at assessing and
QatarEnergy has expanded its upstream portfolio in Namibia by acquiring a 27.5% working interest in Block 2813 under a new agreement with Harmattan Energy Limited (HEL), the operator of the block. Announced on Sunday, the agreement confirms HEL, an indirect subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, as the majority stakeholder with a 52.5% interest. The remaining partners, Trago Energy Limited and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), each hold a 10% interest, according to QatarEnergy’s press
Algeria’s state-owned oil company, Sonatrach, is set to restart exploration activities in Libya’s Ghadames Basin, specifically on plots 95 and 96, after a hiatus of nearly ten years. The decision follows a recent technical meeting between Sonatrach and Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), during which seismic survey data was reviewed and the resource potential of the region reevaluated. As part of the renewed efforts, operations will soon resume on the A1-96/2 exploratory well, which has
88 Energy is on track to finalize a prospective resource estimate for PEL 93, located in Namibia’s onshore Owambo Basin, by the first half of 2025. The update follows an internal review of Monitor Exploration Limited’s initial interpretation of 2D seismic data, which identified 10 significant independent structural closures. PEL 93 spans a vast 18,500 km² and includes central licence blocks 1717 and 1817. The company plans to drill its first well in the basin
The Noble Venturer drillship is scheduled to arrive in Walvis Bay next week to commence drilling operations for Rhino Resources on Block PEL-85. The campaign will target two key prospects, Volans-1 and Sagittarius-1, and is expected to last at least 100 days. This state-of-the-art seventh-generation Samsung 96-K drillship, built in 2014, is equipped to operate in water depths of up to 12,000 feet and drill as deep as 40,000 feet. With a crew capacity of
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya has announced plans to launch a public tender offering 22 onshore and offshore exploration blocks to international oil companies. The announcement was made during a meeting chaired by Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, on December 7. The tender aims to attract foreign investment to bolster Libya’s hydrocarbon sector. NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara emphasized the introduction of a new standard agreement and an updated procedural manual. These documents,
TotalEnergies is pursuing environmental clearance to drill up to seven exploration wells in the southern portion of its Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB) block, located off South Africa’s west coast. The DWOB block lies approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) offshore between Port Nolloth and Saldanha Bay in deep waters. TotalEnergies EP South Africa (TEEPSA), the operator, previously received authorization in 2023 to explore the northern section of the block. The company now seeks to extend
Shell has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Angola’s National Agency for Oil, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG), marking its return to the country after a 25-year absence. The signing ceremony took place in Luanda on Thursday, with key participants including ANPG Chairman Paulino Jerónimo, Shell Executive Vice-President Eugene Okpere, and Minister of Natural Resources, Oil, and Gas, Diamantino de Azevedo. Minister de Azevedo highlighted the importance of the agreement, attributing it to Angola’s ongoing
Tanzania is set to launch its fifth petroleum licensing round in March 2025, offering 26 exploration blocks to global investors. Dr. James Mataragio, the Energy Deputy Permanent Secretary for Oil and Gas, announced the plan during a presentation on Tanzania’s oil and gas sector at the African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference, which brings together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders, focuses on advancing energy innovations and sustainable development strategies across Africa.
Egypt’s Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister, Karim Badawi, recently met with Chevron’s International Exploration and Production President, Clay Neff, to discuss Chevron’s activities in Egypt and strategies for boosting production. The meeting highlighted the potential impact of new incentives from Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum. The discussion covered Chevron’s ongoing negotiations with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) concerning the acquisition of two new concessions. Minister Badawi emphasized the range of investment opportunities available through
