The US Minerals Management Service has accepted all 95 high bids in the recent Eastern Gulf of Mexico Lease sale. The bids totaled $340.5 million (OGJ Online, Dec. 6, 2001).
Woodside Energy Ltd. said the Enfield 4 appraisal well may lead to development of its WA-271-P permit off the coast of Western Australia. Woodside Energy may combine development of Enfield and Vincent, which together have oil resources of 300 million bbl. That would require agreement of partners in WA-155-P, because Vincent straddles the two blocks.
BP PLC, through joint venture Gulf of Suez Petroleum Co., has formed a geophysical technology alliance with Petroleum Geo-Services ASA, Oslo. The alliance is expected to generate projects worth $10 million over 3 years. PGS will be a preferred technology provider to GUPCO for advanced seismic processing techniques.
First Calgary Petroleums Ltd. has selected Entreprise Nationale de Geophysique to acquire 230 sq km of 3D seismic data on Block 406a (Rhourde Yacoub) in Algeria. Work will begin by Feb. 15 and take 2 months.
Petroleum Geo-Services ASA and Petroleum Agency SA will cooperate to promote deepwater exploration acreage in the Orange basin off western South Africa. The 160,000 sq km area will soon be available for licensing. The two companies will acquire and market 2D seismic data and interpret new and reprocessed data.
Magnum Hunter Resources Inc. and Southwestern Energy Co. will jointly explore 49,000 gross mineral acres around Magnum Hunter's existing leases in Eddy and Lea counties of southeastern New Mexico. The companies will drill at least three wells in the first year, targeting the Atoka and Morrow.
New Zealand has awarded Swift Energy New Zealand Ltd. a permit to develop its Rimu discovery on Petroleum Exploration Permit 38719 in the Taranaki basin.