Saudi Arabia - joining the dots

A series of blog entries exploring Saudi Arabia's role in the oil markets with a brief look at the history of the royal family and politics that dictate and influence the Kingdom's oil policy

AIM - Assets In Market

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Iran negotiations - is the end nigh?

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Yemen: The Islamic Chessboard?

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Acquisition Criteria

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Valuation Series

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Wednesday 22 October 2014

Obama Administration to bypass Congress on deal with Iran?



Obama Administration reported plan to bypass Congress on a deal with Iran
  • Administration’s plan to suspend economic sanctions against Iran without a vote in Congress
  • …Administration says Congress will have final say in whether to permanently lift sanctions


Permanent sanctions would only be lifted if Tehran demonstrates compliance with restrictions on its nuclear programme
  • …and Iran must make sufficient progress in conceding its programme


At the same time, consider whether US requires Iranian support in the battle against the Islamic State?

According to Saudi intelligence, the P5+1 have conceded that Iran can maintain a civilian nuclear infrastructure

  • Saudi wants the GCC to influence Congress to not approve retention of any nuclear facility

Wednesday 8 October 2014

Sangomar Deep - Senegal's first offshore discovery




  • On 7 October 2014, Cairn Energy and its partners announced that a significant oil discovery had been made in the FAN-1 exploration well in the Sangomar Deep block, Senegal's first offshore discovery
    • 29m net pay
    • Gross oil interval of >500m
    • No OWC encountered
    • Distinct oil types recovered 28-41 API
  • This was followed by a second discovery in the SNE-1 well, announced on 10 November 2014
    • 36m net pay
    • Gross oil interval of 95m with gas cap
    • Oil of 32 API, oil and water recovered to surface
    • 1C: 150mmbbl, 2C:330mmbbl, 3C: 670mmbbl
  • Block is operated by Cairn (40%) - other partners are COP (35%), Far (15%), Petrosen (10%)
  • SNE-1 is potentially commercial on a standalone basis; FAN-1 economics more marginal - may be tied back to SNE-1 or warrant a stand-alone development, will need further delineation