Panoro Energy to develop oil and gas discoveries offshore Equatorial Guinea
(WO) – Panoro Energy ASA has reached an agreement with the Government of Equatorial Guinea on the key terms and conditions for the award of offshore Block EG-23.
The Heads of Terms agreement signed by Panoro, GEPetrol (the national oil company), and the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons, paves the way for a period of exclusive negotiations to finalize a Production Sharing Contract (“PSC”) for Block EG-23 and development of a work program and budget. Panoro envisages its participating interest in Block EG-23 upon award of a PSC will be up to 80% initially.
Block EG-23 is located offshore Equatorial Guinea, north of Bioko Island and adjacent to the producing Alba gas and condensate field. Covering a surface area of approximately 600 km2, in water depths ranging from 50 m to 100 m, 19 wells have been drilled on Block EG-23 to date resulting in seven hydrocarbon discoveries (four oil, two gas and one gas/condensate), some of which have been tested.
The block was previously held by Marathon. Panoro’s technical evaluation indicates a range of plays exist on the block and has identified a number of prospects and leads in addition to the existing discoveries.
Panoro envisages an initial work program will be focused on re-processing existing seismic data to mature prospects and leads to a drill-ready state with an option to then enter a second stage which would entail drilling.
John Hamilton, CEO of Panoro, commented, “We are grateful to the Government of Equatorial Guinea for this opportunity to enter into a PSC for the highly prospective Block EG-23 and further grow our business in Equatorial Guinea. The award of a PSC for Block EG-23, when finalized, will be a complementary expansion of our existing acreage portfolio in Equatorial Guinea.”
