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

Wednesday, 10 May 2017

Yakaar - major gas discovery offshore Senegal

 Kosmos has made a substantial 15tcf gas discovery offshore Senegal. The Yakaar-1 well on the Cayar Offshore Profond licence intersected a gross hydrocarbon column of 120m and encountered 45m of net pay. The well confirmed the presence of thick, stacked, reservoir sands over a large area with very good porosity and permeability. This discovery marks the continuation of Kosmos’ success in the Mauritania/Senegal river basin (Tortue, Ahmeyin,...

Thursday, 4 May 2017

DNO: Branching out

  In a move as surprising as TransGlobe's entry into Canada, DNO has announced the acquisition or Origo Exploration, a UK and Norway focussed private explorer backed by GNRI, Riverstone and Temasek. As consideration, DNO will assume Origo's exploration commitments and licence obligations. Origo has interests in 11 blocks offshore UK and Norway, with 20-30% non-operated interest in each block. This portfolio is expected to generate around...

Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Major interest in Senegal

On 3rd May, Total announced that it had signed two agreements with Senegal: Acquisition of the RPO block (Total 90%, Petrosen 10%) which lies in deepwater immediately adjacent to the SNE and FAN discoveries (Cairn 40%, Woodside 35%, FAR 15%, Petrosen 10%) Agreement to perform studies to assess the exploration potential of Senegal’s ultra-deep offshore and become operator of an exploration block. This activity follows the recent transaction...

Friday, 28 April 2017

Saudi Arabia: Consolidating power and austerity tested

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia announced two pieces of news that the oil markets will be keeping a close eye on. In this latest episode of palace intrigue, King Salman has taken further steps to consolidate power in the Salman branch of the royal family and reversed some of the austerity measures implemented in 2016, the latter signalling tears in the fabric of the social contract with the Saudi public. King Salman’s sons, Abdulaziz bin Salman and Khaled bin Salman, will become Minister of State for Energy and Saudi Ambassador to the US respectively. Prince...

Tuesday, 25 April 2017

More innovative investment from Schlumberger for Sound Energy

Sound and Schlumberger have agreed to extend their partnership under the existing Field Management Agreement. In an era where more innovative financing arrangements are being seen, Schlumberger will be granted 27.5% interest in the Meridja and Tendrara Relinquished Areas in exchange for providing services. Schlumberger will carry out the upcoming geophysical programme which will include: 2,600km of new 2D seismic covering the Paleozoic across...

Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Premier sells out of Pakistan

Premier has announced the disposal of its Pakistan business for USD65.6 million to Al-Haj General Trading Co. The sale process for these assets was initiated in 2015 after an unsolicited approach and culminates with today's announcement.The Pakistan assets comprise six non-operated producing gas fields which produced c.47mmcfpd and generated c.USD41 million in 2016. Premier has been present in Pakistan since 1988 and in 1990, made the Qadirpur...

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”)...