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

Friday, 31 March 2017

FAR AMI with CNOOC in Senegal and The Gambia

On 31st March, FAR announced that it had entered into an Area of Mutual Interest Agreement with Chinese state giant CNOOC for the joint co-operation on the evaluation of and entry into new opportunities across Senegal and The Gambia. This follows on FAR’s farm-in to 80% of Blocks A2 and A5 in Gambia from Erin Energy earlier this week. The announcement on the arrangement with CNOOC follows: “FAR has signed an Area of Mutual Interest (“AMI”)...

Monday, 27 March 2017

Shell sells onshore Gabon to Carlyle

On 24th March, Shell announced the sale of its onshore Gabon assets to Assala Energy Holdings (a portfolio company backed by Carlyle Group). Assala will pay USD587 million and assume debt of USD285 million, taking “enterprise value” to c.USD870 million. Shell will also receive up to a further USD150 million in contingent payments depending on oil prices and performance. This compares with a Wood Mackenzie NPV10 of c.USD600 million and implies...

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

Bowleven Bomono farm-out

Bowleven and Victoria Oil & Gas ("VOG") have signed a farm-out agreement relating to the Bomono production sharing contract. VOG is a domestic Cameroon gas supplier, and gas upcoming production from Bomono fits in with its strategy of expanding local supply. Bowleven will retain a 20% operated interest in the Bomono PSC and VOG will have an 80% interest. Bowleven will receive £100,000 worth of new ordinary shares in VOG and a 3.5% royalty...

Monday, 6 March 2017

Perenco acquires Gabonese assets from Total

On 27th February Total announced that it had agreed the sale of its Gabonese assets to Perenco for USD350 million. Perenco will acquire: Total Participations Petrolières Gabon ("TPPG") a wholly owned subsidiary of Total which has interests in 10 assets; and 5 assets from Total Gabon, the publicly listed entity in which Total owns 58.3% and the government of Gabon 41.7% The package will comprise of 12 fields (some are owned by ‎TPPG and Total...

Friday, 3 March 2017

Sterling sells out to Oranje-Nassau Energie

Sterling Resources has announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its SRUK Holdings subsidiary to Oranje-Nassau Energie for a net consideration of USD113 million, assuming the bonds are fully redeemed and the super senior revolving credit facility is cancelled. Sterling anticipates a completion date of 15th May. Following Sterling’s recapitalization in May 2016, the board of continued to review and pursue various M&A opportunities to rebuild the business. Sterling considered a number of opportunities and alternatives, including mergers...

Thursday, 2 March 2017

More success at Jacana

GeoPark today announced the successful drilling and testing of the Jacana-11 appraisal well on block LLA-34. The well, located 2.5km southwest of Jacana-6 and extends the Tigana/Jacana oilfield to the south-west edge of the block. The well reached TD of 11,618ft and did not encounter the oil-water contact. Jacana-11 tested at c.2,100b/d (18.7 API, <1% water cut) with an ESP from the Guadalupe formation, and the well is already in production. The...

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

BP continues foray into clean energy and US gas supply

BP has agreed to acquire Clean Energy Fuels Corp's biomethane production assets for USD155 million, expanding BP's gas supply portfolio in the US. BP will take over Clean Energy Fuels Corp's existing and two new biomethane production sites as well as supply contracts from third parties. As part of the deal, the Clean Energy will also signed a long-term agreement to purchase biomethane from BP. Press release: CHICAGO, Ill. and NEWPORT BEACH, Calif....