The government of Assam state in India has signed the petroleum exploration license for Block AA-ON/7, said block partner Canoro Resources Ltd., Calgary.
The block, in the Assam-Arakan basin in northeastern India, covers 1,934 sq km.
The license puts into effect a production sharing contract the Indian government issued in 1999. It enables the block's partners to begin operations on the block. The planned program includes reinterpretation of 500 km of existing seismic and the collection of 50 km of new seismic, as well as at least one exploration well and possible re-entries of existing wells.
Licensees will be able to access the existing five wells, two of which tested gas from multiple pay zones.
Canoro said the block is flanked by producing oil and gas fields. It said the main producing reservoirs are Miocene and Oligocene sands.
Canoro's Canadian Consortium has a 65% working interest and operates the block.
