Algeria's national petroleum company Sonatrach signed, Sunday eight oil and gas exploration contracts with seven companies and consortiums for investments totalling US$141 million.
According to APS, the first contract was signed between Sonatrach and Australian group "BHP-Billiton and Woodie". It covers blocks 408-a and 409 located on “Ksar Hirane” perimeter in Benoud basin. This $13 million contract includes a program of 600-km of 2D seismic and the drilling of two exploration wells.
The second contract, concluded with China’s “CNPC” for $27 million, concerns block 438-b in El M'zaid perimeter, Oued Mya basin.
The third and fourth contracts were inked with another Chinese company, “Sinopec”: the first for $13.8 million for El Hadjira perimeters (blocks 416-a and 417) in Oued Mya; the second of $14.4 million for blocks 418, 419 and 438-a in “Guerara” perimeter in Oued Mya as well.
The deal concluded with America’s Amerada Hess for $15.2 million includes blocks 428 and 429 in Agreb North perimeter (Amguid Messaoud basin).
Two contracts were signed with Spanish consortium “Repsol MPF-Gas National” for blocks 214-a, 246-a and 246-c in Gassi Chergui West (Berkine) and Ireland’s “Petrocelti” for blocks 228 and 229 in Isarene (Illizi). These two contracts were estimated at $16 million and $12.2 million respectively.
The last contract was signed with Norway’s “Statoil” for $17.5 million. It covers blocks 317-b, 319-b, 321-b and 322-b2 in Hass Mouina perimeter (Gourara basin). (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
