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

Tuesday, 27 February 2018

OVL and GeoPark announce strategic partnership across Latin America

ONGC Videsh, the international arm of Indian oil & gas giant ONGC, and GeoPark have entered into a long-term partnership to acquire and invest in upstream projects across Latin America. Both companies have an existing presence in the region and the partnership will help the two companies work together as a consolidator of assets to build a large scale business. GeoPark has a sporadic portfolio throughout Latin America and has aspired to build...

Monday, 26 February 2018

FAR goes further with another industry partner

On 26th February, FAR announced that it had agreed to farm-out a 40% interest in Blocks A2 and A5 in The Gambia to Petronas. FAR will retain 40% and operatorship; the remaining 20% is held by Erin Energy – FAR farmed in to the blocks in March 2017 in return for upfront payment of USD5.2 million and FAR funding an exploration well (to be drilled in 2018) up to USD8 million. Under the deal, Petronas will fund 80% of the Samo-1 exploration...

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Aker Energy buys Hess’ Ghana business

Aker Energy, a 50-50 JV between Aker and TRG, has acquired Hess’ 40% interest in Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points, offshore Ghana for USD100 million, with USD25 million payable at close and a further USD75 million payable on PDO approval. The block lies south of the Jubilee and TEN blocks operated by Tullow and covers over c.2,100km2 with a 2C resource estimate of ~550mmbbl. Aker will present a development plan for the block later this year...

Monday, 19 February 2018

OVL to bid for South Azadegan oil development in Iran

Indian oil giant ONGC Videsh Limited ("OVL") will bid for the development rights of the giant South Azadegan in Iran. There is strong competition with the likes of Gazprom, Lukoil, Rosneft, Shell, Total, Eni Petronas, Inpex, Sinopec and CNPC. of Malaysia and Russia’s Gazprom. OVL is one of 34 companies that pre-qualified last year for development of the field which is estimated to contain 6bnboe recoverable and currently produces 80mbbl/d - with the right investment, this could reach 320mbbl/d. The National Iranian Oil Co ("NIOC") will issue a...

Thursday, 15 February 2018

Kurdistan players receive payment for November exports

Genel Energy and DNO have received payment from the KRG for November oil sales. DNO received USD54.73 million for crude oil deliveries to the export market from the Tawke. The funds will be shared by DNO and Genel pro-rata to the companies' interests in the licence (75% DNO/25% Genel). Separately, a payment of USD4.7 million was received by DNO, representing 3% of gross Tawke licence revenues during November, as provided for under receivables settlement agreement from August 2017. The Taq Taq partners have received a gross payment of USD11.05...

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

Faroe finds a Valentine in Suncor – farms out 17.5% in Fenja to Suncor

Faroe has announced the sale of a 17.5% interest in the Fenja development to Suncor for USD54.5 million which includes the transfer of tax losses. Faroe will retain a 7.5% interest which fully aligns its equity interest with that of the other fields in the Greater Njord Area (Njord, Bauge, Hyme and Fenja). The transaction crystallises value of the asset pre-development and reduces Faroe’s capex (estimated to GBP70 million). The PDO for Fenja...

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Dragon Oil increases stake in Block 9 to 45% from Kuwait Energy

Kuwait Energy has farmed out a 15% interest in Block 9, Iraq to Dragon Oil. Kuwait Energy will reduce its interest to 45% and Dragon Oil will increase its stake to 45%. The 15% will be made up of the following: 8.57% for USD100 million cash; 6.43% in settlement of a dispute in favour of Dragon Oil Full press release by Kuwait Energy follows: Kuwait Energy Company is pleased to announce the signing of the Block 9, Iraq Farm-out Agreement with Dragon Oil Plc (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company Ltd, the national oil company...