By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 7 -- A unit of Ophir Energy PLC struck a deal with Ras Al Khaimah Gas Tanzania Ltd. to acquire 70% interest in and operatorship of the East Pande onshore-offshore license in the Rovuma basins in southern Tanzania.
The license covers more than 7,500 sq km and partly adjoins to the west blocks 1, 3, and 4 in which Ophir holds 40% interest. An Ophir-BG International combine has made three sizable deepwater gas discoveries, two on Block 4 in the Mafia Deepwater basin and one on Block 1 in the Rovuma basin (OGJ Online, Apr. 4, 2011).
The East Pande block extends from onshore in the Rovuma basin in the south to as much as 2,000 m of water in the Mandawa subbasin in the north. The production sharing agreement was awarded to RAKGas in 2006.
RAKGas shot 1,800 line-km of 2D seismic data in the offshore part of East Pande in late 2010. The data indicate the continuous nature of the geology between East Pande and the prospective Ophir acreage to the east, Ophir said.
Subject to partner and government consent, Ophir intends to shoot a 3D seismic survey in the offshore part of the block. Ophir will fund 100% of the cost of the survey and reimburse certain back costs. If Ophir elects to drill, it will carry RAKGas through the first exploratory well.
Ophir and RAKGas are also partners in the Berbera PSA in Somaliland.
159458497 Aleksei Zakirov | Dreamstime.
Photo from Esso SAF.
