CNOOC Ltd. and Eni SPA have been awarded separate petroleum exploration and production concession contracts with the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mozambique and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH) for blocks offshore Mozambique.
CNOOC was awarded contracts for five blocks. The operator and ENH are expected to soon begin prospecting and research work for hydrocarbons in areas S6-A, S6-B, in the Save zone; A6-D, A6-G and A6-E, in the Angoche area, ENH said in a release May 24. The blocks comprise a total area of about 29,000 sq km, with water depths of 500-2,500 m.
“CNOOC is empowered to carry out the necessary oil operations and the work program that includes seismic acquisition and the opening of holes in deep waters, which could lead to new discoveries of more oil resources,” said Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias. Prospectivity of the area is supported by preliminary studies carried out in the Angoche and Save sedimentary basins, he said.
According to contract terms, the first stage of the exploration period is 4 years, CNOOC said in a separate release. Speaking at a press conference held after the signing, board president of the National Petroleum Institute (INP), Nazário Bangalane, said the contracts have a total duration of 8 years, during which the concessionaires will drill at least three wells in deep waters and carry out geoscientific studies off the Save and Angoche regions.
Five wholly owned subsidiaries of CNOOC Ltd. will act as operators in the exploration and development phases (S6-A 70%, S6-B 77.5%, A6-D 77.5%, A6-E 80%, A6-G 79.5%). ENH owns the remaining non-operating interests (S6-A 30%, S6-B 22.5%, A6-D 22.5%, A6-E 20%, A6-G 20.5%).
The contracts are the culmination of a process that began in 2021, with the launch, by INP, of the 6th international public tender for the bidding of 16 new offshore areas in Angoche, Zambezi, and Save, covering a total of about 92,000 sq km.
In addition to the CNOOC contract awards, Area A6-C, in Angoche, was awarded to a consortium of Eni Mozambico SpA and ENH, to be operated by Eni with 20-40% interest.