Talisman eyes Oman offerings
Upstream, this week's issue
Canada's Talisman is bidding for one of three offshore exploration blocks on offer in Oman's current licensing round, writes Nassir Shirkhani.
The blocks -- 18A, 18B and 41 -- are in the Gulf of Oman and cover a total area of 45,240 square kilometres.
Oman has just announced it is extending the round's deadline by two months to 15 September. The round opened on 15 January.
Talisman's boss Jim Buckee said his company was keen on one of the blocks. Talisman, which is currently carrying out exploration work off Qatar, is shifting its Middle East focus to the Persian Gulf after its exit from Sudan earlier this year.
Apart from Talisman, a number of other foreign companies, including France's Total, US outfit Amerada Hess, Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell and Denmark's Maersk have shown interest in Oman's exploration round.
Oman, armed with extensive fresh 3D seismic shot by Petroleum GeoServices, is pinning its hopes on a new bout of exploration activity to add to its oil and gas reserves. The new survey covers water depths ranging from 50 metres to 3000 metres. Adil Rabia Jaman, chief of exploration at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, said the three offshore blocks will be awarded later this year.
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is seeking new technology to help reverse falling output at its mature oil fields where natural decline will see production drop by a 8% this year. PDO produces 95% of Oman's crude production. |
