Inpex gets Mozambique stake from Statoil

April 2, 2013
Inpex Corp. has taken a 25% farmout from Statoil in an exploration license covering areas 2 and 5 in the Rovuma basin offshore Mozambique.

Inpex Corp. has taken a 25% farmout from Statoil in an exploration license covering areas 2 and 5 in the Rovuma basin offshore Mozambique.

Statoil said the Transocean Discoverer Americas drillship will drill the first of two wells in the area in the second quarter.

The blocks cover 8,041 sq km with water depths of 300-2,500 m. They are 1,750 km northeast of Maputo, south of where groups led by Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and Eni SPA have made world-class natural gas discoveries in offshore areas 1 and 4.

Statoil last year farmed out a 25% interest to Tullow Oil PLC (OGJ Online, Aug. 14, 2012).

After the Inpex farmout, which remains subject to government approval and will represent the Japanese company’s first activity in Mozambique, interests will be Statoil Oil & Gas Mozambique AS 40%, Inpex Mozambique and Tullow Mozambique Ltd. 25% each, and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos EP 10%.