By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 17 -- Premier Oil PLC, London, said it received exploration rights to four blocks in the Atlantic off Western Sahara from the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR; OGJ Online, Jan. 18, 2006).
The SADR is Western Sahara's independence movement. The blocks are in territory claimed by Morocco. Khadad Mhamed, Polisario, United Nations chief negotiator, said the licenses would become effective if the UN were to recognize Western Sahara as an independent state, Reuters reported.
The four blocks are Daora, 17,540 km; Haouza, 17,277 sq km; Mahbes, 16,338 sq sm, and Mijek, 23,172 sq km. Daora and Haouza are in 0-3,500 m of water. Mahbes is in 100-3,100 m of water, and Mijek is in 100-3,400 m of water.
Premier has a 50% share and would not be operator. The blocks are north of Mauritania, where Woodside Energy Ltd.'s Chinguetti oil field off Mauritania started production in February (OGJ, Mar. 6, 2006, Newsletter).
