France

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 15 – A unit of Noble Energy Inc., Houston, is starting an 8,000 line-km 2D seismic survey on the Rhone Maritime concession in the Mediterranean off France.

The 3-month survey is to image the entire block for Premessinian and Postmessinian hydrocarbon potential. Noble Energy Inc. is funding the entire survey cost to earn a 72.5% interest in the concession from Melrose Resources PLC, which retains 27.5%.

The 12,500 sq km block, in Rhone Delta deep water off Marseille, is largely unexplored.