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West Africa Focus

Nigeria also remains prospective despite above-ground issues,” IHS analysts say.

Namibia — underexplored but, like other parts of West Africa, geologically linked to Brazil — is getting increased attention. HRT,

Chariot, and Repsol have pre-salt drilling ambitions in the country on the southern end of the pre-salt zone. Namibia’s sole discovery was the Kudu gas feld back in 1974, which still awaits development.

And smaller companies are playing a role from one end of the

West African offshore oil province to the other. Australia-based Africa

In Angola Block 31, BP is developing the PSVM project, joining Plutao, Saturno,

Petroleum, for example, has had

Venus and Marte felds, producing into one FPSO. discoveries off Liberia.

2014, we believe drilling activity partnerships plan several wells. Other lesser-known operators levels are set to soar,” wrote Bank of “Our Cameia success gives us great include Ophir (planning to drill

America Merrill Lynch analysts in a confdence in our West Africa offshore Ghana, Gabon and

February report. strategy and our portfolio,” Cobalt Equatorial Guinea), Harvest

Continuing high oil prices, Chairman and CEO Joe Bryant (Gabon), Nazaki (Angola), AFREN improving technology, relative said, adding that “2013 will be jam (Nigeria, Congo) and Bowleven political stability and — despite packed for us in West Africa.” (Cameroon), delays still seen in the approval of There’s still a lot of work to be It all adds up to an exciting out- some projects — a more supportive done in the post-salt, as the Jubilee look for offshore West Africa, says operating environment are driving discovery off Ghana demonstrated. Marc Blaizot, Total’s senior vice the boom, the analysts say. Information and consulting giant president for exploration. “I think

They forecast 15 to 20 wells in IHS and others see expanded 2013 will be a very great – very the pre-salt play in 2013-14, most activity in the post-salt plays from great year for Africa,” he says. of those off Angola, by Cobalt, Sierra Leone to Benin.

Chevron, Maersk, Total, Statoil, Eni “There is still potential in and Repsol. ConocoPhillips has said the two main plays, namely the

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE it plans to drill four exploration Upper Cretaceous and the Lower

Go to oe.digital.com wells starting in 2014. Cretaceous, and companies are

Libya’s evolving business climate

Setting the pace, Cobalt-led looking to the Ghana success story.

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