Total / PTTEP   l   Oman

Total and PTTEP signed an Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) for the onshore Block 12 with the Ministry of Oil and Gas of the Sultanate of Oman. Total is operator of the block with an 80 W.I. while PTTEP hold the remaining 20 percent participating interest. 

Under EPSA for Block 12, PTTEP MENA and Total will realize geological and geophysical studies, 3D seismic surveys and exploration wells during the initial 3-year exploration phase (2020 – 2022).

Wintershall Noordzee   l   Netherlands

Following the announcement of first gas from the Sillimanite field in the Dutch southern North Sea the next project for Wintershall Noordzee will be the Rembrandt/Vermeer oilfield developments.

For Vermeer, the company plans an integrated wellhead, process, utility and living quarters platform over a subsea storage tank, offloading production to shuttle tankers will be built. Rembrandt will feature a normally unmanned wellhead platform with minimal facilities: in both cases a final investment decision should follow later this year.

In addition, the company is assessing development potential at the Greater Ravn Area in the Danish North Sea.

Oryx Petroleum   l   Iraq

Oryx are pursuing an active drilling program in 2020 in the Hawler license area that is expected to lead to increased production and will allow the company to further assess fields and reservoirs where they currently have contingent or prospective resources but no reserves. The company's six well 2020 program commenced with the drilling of a horizontal sidetrack of the previously drilled Banan-1 well in the eastern fault block of the Banan field and formation evaluation data was obtained from both the Tertiary and Cretaceous reservoirs. Data obtained in the Tertiary reservoir where Oryx currently have no reserves or contingent resources indicates the presence of a significant column of oil with similar density to that produced from the very successful Banan-3 and Banan-4 wells west of the Great Zab river. Data obtained from the Cretaceous reservoir reconfirmed the presence of an oil column in this reservoir but Oryx were unable to complete the well as an oil producer in this reservoir as planned. Further evaluation of these two reservoirs is planned in 2020 from new wells to be drilled from a more optimal location.

Equinor   l   Norway

Equinor and its partners in the Statfjord area plan to drill up to 100 new wells and extend production by more than 10 years. Previous plans to decommission Statfjord A in 2022 have been shelved to extract even more value from the field.

Extensive mapping of the subsurface has revealed that the remaining potential of the Statfjord area is considerable, with Spirit Energy and its partners agreeing on a new and ambitious business plan for the area.  

The new plan includes drilling up to 100 new wells towards 2030. These wells will help reach an ambition of maintaining the current production level from Statfjord beyond 2025. This will require considerable investment and upgrading of the three platforms at the field.

Aminex   l   Tanzania

February 2020: With a US$40 million Work Programme planned, including the drilling of the Chikumbi-1 well and the acquisition of an extensive 3D and 2D seismic survey onshore Tanzania, Aminex and partners intend to rapidly meet the growing power/gas demand in the country, for withAminex fully carried. The proposed 3D seismic survey, expected to cover approximately 500 km², would be the first onshore 3D seismic programme undertaken in Tanzania.

3D Oil / ConocoPhillips   l    Australia  

3D Oil and ConocoPhillips have executed a Farmout Agreement in relation to the offshore Tasmanian Permit T/49P. Under the terms of the Agreement ConocoPhillips Australia will be transferred a 75% interest in the permit and become operator. ConocoPhillips Australia will undertake the acquisition of a 3D seismic survey of not less than 1580 sq km within the Permit and in which 3D Oil will make no financial contribution. This activity is currently planned to be undertaken in the third quarter of 2020. Upon completion of the acquisition, processing and interpretation of the 3D seismic survey ConocoPhillips Australia may elect to drill an exploration well which will fulfill the current Year 6 work programme obligation.

Tulip Oil   l   Germany

In 2019, Rhein discovered oil at the Steig-1 well, and the estimated resource is 114 million barrels of oil in place. In early 2020. Tulip announced that a phased development concept has been selected for Steig, with combined initial production and further appraisal using horizontal wells.

In May 2020, Petronas reported that upcoming exploration activities for Block 52 will involve the drilling of a well in Q3 2020, in addition to acquiring new 3D seismic data utilising the latest technology, covering the whole block to further evaluate the block's upside potential.

Melbana   l   Cuba

Melbana, as Operator, is advanced in its planning to drill two wells in Block 9, onshore Cuba. Drilling operations are currently forecast to commence in Q4 2020, subject to currently unknown timing and movement implications due to COVID-19 management practices that Cuba and other relevant countries may continue to employ in the months ahead.

Melbana's proposed two well drilling program would test four separate targets totalling 236 million barrels (best estimate) of prospective resource, the best of which is estimated to have a 32% chance of success.

United Oil & Gas   l   Jamaica

United Oil & Gas has received approval from the Jamaican Government to take forward the Walton Morant Licence, Jamaica, on a 100% operated basis.

United plan to complete a work programme to further de-risk the high-graded Colibri prospect and perform detailed interpretation of the numerous follow-on targets, including Moonraker,Thunderball, Moneypenny, Jaws, Goldfinger, Vesper, Oriole, Earspot and Rumpspot. This cost-effective activity will be informed by the feedback from companies who have engaged with United and the previous licence operator in the data room process to date. It is believed this work will have a significant impact on the continuing farm-down process.

Pharos Energy   l   Vietnam

In August 2020, the Joint Operating Company's (JOC) request for an extension for the TGT field licence of two years, was formally granted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Vietnam. The licence now runs to 7 December 2026, as the first stage of the full five-year licence extension, and the Company remains confident in securing a licence extension of a further three years to 2029.

This accelerated two-year extension enables the JOC to make investments under the proposed TGT Full Field Development Plan (FFDP), and provides financial flexibility to potentially increase the tenor of the RBL, which currently has a term until 2023, by a further two years. The FFDP, due to commence drilling in Q4 2021, includes drilling six producer wells, has been approved by all Partners and is awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Invictus Energy   l   Zimbabwe

In August 2020, Invictus Energy received approval of its application to renew their investment licence from the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Authority, covering the 80% owned and operated Cabora Bassa Project.

A comprehensive work programme has been proposed for the second three year exploration period, including a commitment to drill a minimum of one exploration well.

Orca Energy   l   Tanzania

Orca Energy is preparing for the workover of onshore well SS-10 in early 2021. A decision on whether to conduct remedial work on two of the older onshore wells, SS-3 and SS-4 will be taken on completion of a major subsurface review of the Songo Songo gas field that will be finalized during Q4 2020. This review, which includes a re-build of the static and dynamic reservoir models, will enable the Company to assess whether the workover of SS-3 and SS-4, or the drilling of new infill wells will be preferable over the remainder of the license period. The review will also incorporate the latest trends in pressure measurements to allow a full re-assessment on the contingent and prospective resource potential and associated economics of drilling and developing the natural gas in the areas known as Songo Songo North and Songo Songo West.

Oryx Energy   l   Offshore Senegal / Guinea-Bissau

3D seismic data interpretation and prospect ranking is complete and environmental impact assessment is nearing completion. Exploration drilling is planned in 2021.

Shell   l   UK

In August 2020, Egdon Resources completed the Farm-In Agreement with Shell in respect of offshore licences P1929 and P2304 which contain the Resolution and Endeavour gas discoveries.

The focus will now be on progressing appraisal activity on the Resolution and Endeavour gas discoveries. The first part of this activity will be the acquisition of a marine 3D seismic survey during Q1 2021.

Independent Oil & Gas   l   UK

In September 2020, IOG was offered four new UK Southern North Sea blocks by the Oil and Gas Authority in the 32nd UKCS Licensing Round.  

Panther Block 49/21e: The work programme entails reprocessing of 79km² 3D seismic up to Pre-Stack Depth Migration ("PSDM") and reservoir modelling on Viper.

Grafton Block 49/22b: The work programme entails reprocessing 100km² of 3D seismic up to PSDM. This will help refine the recoverable resource estimate, inform potential field development plans and evaluate possible further resources across the block, including the small additional Isca discovery. 

Allerdale 48/24c and Redwell Northwest 48/23d: The work commitment on these two blocks, which lie in 20-30 metre water depth, is to undertake 61km² of 3D seismic reprocessing up to PSDM. This will refine the Company's view of the sub-surface potential and ties in with the additional 3D seismic reprocessing work currently underway on the Harvey and Redwell licences.

Pantheon Resources   l   Alaska

In September 2020, Pantheon's Alaskan subsidiary, Great Bear Pantheon, received notice from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that its application to form the Talitha Production Unit of 44,373 acres is complete and eligible for approval. The Talitha Production Unit includes a commitment to drill one well within 2 years or two wells within 4 years.

Tullow Oil   l   Suriname

The Goliathberg-Voltzberg North well in Block 47 is now planned to be drilled in the first quarter of 2021, testing dual targets in the Cretaceous turbidite play in approximately 1,900 metres of water. The well will be drilled by the Stena Forth drillship.

Edison E&P   l   Croatia

In Croatia, Edison E&P expects to spud the Irena-2 appraisal well in 4Q 2020. It will target the same gas-bearing horizon that was successful in Irena-1 and, in the event of a success, the well will be suspended for future production.

Edison E&P   l   UK
The two-well Glengorm appraisal campaign is expected to commence in late 2020.