Pirates see better risk-reward in Nigeria’s oil theft industry
Oil bunkering in Nigeria is a more attractive industry than piracy, for now, but this may change in late 2023.
Offshore
Nigeria, Morocco sign up more states to pipeline plan
Despite scepticism around the plan, countries along the proposed gas pipeline route from Nigeria to Morocco continue to sign up.
Yinson steps up for Azule FPSO off Angola
Yinson Production has agreed to work on the Agogo FPSO for Azule Energy, in Angola’s Block 15/06.
Exxon to decommission Zafiro, eyeing licence expiry
ExxonMobil is “working towards” decommissioning its Zafiro Producer unit, offshore Equatorial Guinea.
Ponticelli begins maintenance work at Total’s Alima
Workers from Ponticelli Frères are going to work on TotalEnergies’ Alima FPU, in Congo Brazzaville, for a planned 16 days of maintenance.
Woodside celebrates next Sangomar step
Companies building the Sangomar FPSO have completed their work, keeping the Senegalese field on schedule for start in late 2023.
BP wins two more blocks off Egypt
Egypt has awarded two exploration blocks in the Mediterranean Sea to BP, close to its existing assets.
Eni plunges into Thuraya work, picking up from Dana Gas
Eni has begun drilling the Thuraya prospect, offshore Egypt, hoping to replicate the success of its major Zohr find.
Eni talks more FLNG with Mozambique president
Eni has held talks with Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi on more floating LNG (FLNG) projects in the East African state.
Gas over coal for South Africa, TotalEnergies boss argues
TotalEnergies can develop gas offshore South Africa responsibly, the CEO has argued, and help the country reduce emissions.
Europa walks away from Moroccan frontier
Europa Oil & Gas is relinquishing it Moroccan licence, which it acquired in 2019, after failing to find a partner.
South Africa seeks seismic providers ahead of licence round
South Africa is dusting off seismic plans once more as it aims to launch a licensing round, following the passage of long delayed upstream laws.
BP takes on Valaris floater for Egypt work
BP has picked a Valaris rig to drill four wells offshore Egypt, starting late in the third or early in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Chevron extends jack-up contract with Shelf Drilling
Shelf Drilling has extended a contract with Chevron in Angola for the Shelf Drilling Tenacious.
TotalEnergies plans exploration off South Africa West Coast
TotalEnergies is planning to explore for oil offshore South Africa’s West Coast, where environmental groups have increasingly opposed such activity.
PetroNor commits to A4 exploration
PetroNor E&P has signed a licence to explore the A4 licence, off The Gambia.
Eco Atlantic sinks on Gazania-1 disappointment
Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas (LSE:ECO) has declared the Gazania-1 well non-commercial in a knock for offshore South Africa’s hopes.
KBR, JGC and Technip Energies sign up to FEED on Nigeria’s first FLNG
UTM Offshore has signed a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for a floating LNG (FLNG) project offshore Nigeria.
Amid faltering TEN expansion, Tullow accelerates Jubilee SE
Tullow Oil expects to begin drilling wells on Jubilee South East this quarter, with the aim of boosting production beyond 100,000 barrels per day in 2025.
Conversion of OML 130 could trigger FID from Total at Preowei
Partners in Nigeria’s OML 127 and 130 continue to work on conversion to new terms – with success potentially triggering approval for the Preowei discovery.
Saipem stacks up more drilling in West Africa, Middle East
Saipem has won three new drilling contracts in the Middle East, and two in West Africa, with a total value of $800 million.
Egypt inks seven decarbonisation MoUs, including Idku flare study
Egypt has struck a number of agreements with energy companies around sustainability and reducing emissions, including at the Idku liquefaction plant.
Eni, CNOOC bid for Mozambique acreage
Eni and CNOOC have submitted applications for areas up for grabs in Mozambique’s sixth licensing round.
Mozambique, with Eni, celebrate first LNG export
Coral Sul has exported its first LNG cargo, bringing Mozambique into the exclusive club of liquefied gas exporters.
Nigeria loses bid for OPL 245 damages from Shell, Eni
An appeals court in Milan has rejected Nigeria’s claims for damages stemming from the OPL 245 scandal, ordering the government to pay costs.