Pennzoil expands exploration off Qatar

Pennzoil Exploration & Production Co. has expanded its exploration campaign off Qatar. State oil company Qatar General Petroleum Corp. (QGPC) this month approved an application by operator Pennzoil 75% and Sydney independent Novus Petroleum Ltd. 25% to modify their Block 8 concession off Qatar and enter into a second exploration phase on the block. The new contract modifies the block boundary to incorporate an adjacent structure that hosts a potentially commercial oil discovery. QGPC made the

Oct. 19, 1998

Pennzoil Exploration & Production Co. has expanded its exploration campaign off Qatar.

State oil company Qatar General Petroleum Corp. (QGPC) this month approved an application by operator Pennzoil 75% and Sydney independent Novus Petroleum Ltd. 25% to modify their Block 8 concession off Qatar and enter into a second exploration phase on the block.

The new contract modifies the block boundary to incorporate an adjacent structure that hosts a potentially commercial oil discovery. QGPC made the Naj- wat Najem find in 1976, gauging a flow rate of 2,000 b/d of 29° gravity oil.

Under the agreement, Pennzoil and Novus will conduct a 200 sq km 3D seismic survey of the Najwat Najem structure and drill one exploratory well.

The latest effort follows encouraging results on Block 8, where the two companies conducted an extensive seismic survey and drilled four exploratory wells, two of which found noncommercial hydrocarbons.