Hunting the Pre-Salt
There is now growing industry excitement in anticipation of the forthcoming Gabonese Licensing Round. The Round is increasingly being hailed as one of the best opportunities in many years to…
Africa
Half a Century of Oil in Libya
2008 marked the 50th anniversary of the very first commercial oil discovery in the Sirt Basin, Libya, in 1958. In the years since then, 22 giant and more than 25…
Mali: A Country on the Cusp?
Mali is the largest country in West Africa and yet is one of the least known to the hydrocarbon industry, with a total of only five exploration wells. It is…
The Dawning of Two Continents
Rifting caused the breakup of Western Gondwana into two separate continents and is responsible for the key elements of a mega petroleum system that is now being fully exploited. There…
Oil in Nigeria – Curse or Blessing?
As Nigeria is overtaken by Angola as Africa’s largest oil producer, is it true that the discovery of oil 50 years ago has been more a curse than a blessing?…
Seeking Operatorship in Angola
StatoilHydro has grown into a major player in Angola. With more than 200,000 barrels of oil produced every single day, and having assisted Sonangol to become an operator, the time…
The Raven Field: Planning For Success
The Raven Field in the Nile Delta, discovered in 2004, has proved the window to a major new play in this prolific geological province and has de-risked a significant volume…
A Significant Discovery
Interest in the West African country has increased with the success of a recent appraisal well. It suggests that the Jubilee field may contain over one billion barrels of oil.…
More African Countries Become Gas Exporters
With exploration underway in almost every country in the continent, Africa is playing an important part in the exploitation of the world’s gas resources. Successful commercialisation of smaller fields, however,…
The Single Biggest Exploration Commitment
After an absence of 30 years, BP has recently announced that it is returning to Libya – and in a very big way. Hot Spot Libya
Egypt’s Secret Treasure
“There is no country which possesses so many wonders.” So said the Roman Heroditus when he visited Egypt in 420BC, confirming that Egypt has been a magnet for tourists for…
Angola Offers Ultra-Deep Water Blocks
Sonangol EP, the national oil company of Angola, recently announced a new licensing round for 2007-2008. Hot Spot- Angola offers Ultra-Deep Water Blocks