Total Takes CNOOC Stake Offshore Qatar

- Total Takes CNOOC Stake Offshore Qatar

Monday, May 30, 2011
Total S.A.

Total announced that it has signed an agreement with CNOOC Middle East (Qatar) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC International Limited, to acquire a 25% interest in Qatar's Block BC (pre-Khuff) exploration license. CNOOC Middle East (Qatar) Limited will continue to be the operator with a 75% interest.

Located 130 kilometers east of the Qatari coast, the offshore block covers an area of 5,649 square kilometers, with water depths ranging from 15 to 35 meters.

The Block BC Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA), entered into with the Government of the State of Qatar, stipulates that 2D and 3D seismic surveys will be conducted and that at least three exploration wells will be drilled by 2014.

Commenting on Total's participation in the Block BC EPSA, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh AI-Sada, Qatar's Minister of Energy and Industry said, "We would like to welcome our long time partner, Total, into the Block BC EPSA, and we wish them and CNOOC all success with the exploration activities, which we believe are always enhanced when quality companies such as Total and CNOOC join efforts."

"CNOOC thanks QP for its professional support during the execution since EPSA endorsement. Block BC is as one of its most important projects with QP, in addition to other cooperation," said Xiang Hua, Country Manager to Qatar. "We also welcome Total to join CNOOC in exploring Block BC in Pre-Khuff formation. We believe the partnership is combining strengths from both and will eventually lead to win-win operation towards commercial discovery."

"The farm-in transaction is another step forward in the partnerships forged with Qatar Petroleum and CNOOC, and reflects Total’s commitment to expanding its exploration and production operations in promising geological basins," stated Christophe de Margerie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Total.

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JX Nippon, Qatar Sign Gas Exploration Deal - Reports

JX Nippon, Qatar Sign Gas Exploration Deal - Reports

Monday, May 09, 2011
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)

Japan's JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corp. and state-operated Qatar Petroleum signed a 100-million-dollar exploration and production sharing agreement for a natural gas field off the emirate, news reports said Monday.

JX Nippon, a unit of JX Holdings Inc, reached the 30-year agreement Sunday with Qatar for production sharing at Block A, a 6,173-square-kilometer area near North Field, the world's biggest gas field, Jiji Press reported.

The field is estimated to have significantly large reserves, an unnamed official of Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy was quoted by Jiji as saying. Production is expected to start around 2020 after five years of exploration and test drilling.

Industry Minister Banri Kaieda said in a statement that the latest deal would help Japan bolster its bilateral relations with Qatar and secure energy needed for its recovery from the March earthquake disaster, Jiji reported.

Demand for liquefied natural gas has risen in Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which forced providers to take a number of nuclear power stations offline. The disaster crippled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and it has leaked radiation into the air and sea ever since.

Amid growing public concern about another nuclear accident and demands to review the country's nuclear energy policy, Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged utility provider Chubu Electric Power Co Friday to shut down all reactors at its Hamaoka nuclear station located near a geological fault line.

Copyright 2011 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH

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Fire Extinguished at Maersk's Platform Offshore Qatar

Fire Extinguished at Maersk's Platform Offshore Qatar

Thursday, April 21, 2011
Maersk Oil

At 02:46 on April 21, a fire broke out on the Maersk Oil Qatar operated AD accommodation platform in the Al Shaheen field, 80 km north of Qatar.

The fire which took place in the emergency generator room has been extinguished and the situation is under control. All employees are safe and accounted for with no serious injuries. Our primary concern remains the safety and well-being of our personnel and those affected by the situation. All non-essential personnel have been evacuated from the platform and crisis counseling made available.

The cause of the fire is unknown and an investigation is underway to establish the root cause. However, three days prior to the incident production at A-Location had been shut-down for planned maintenance work. As a result no hydrocarbons were present at the time. There has been no environmental impact as a result of the incident.

Maersk Oil Qatar operates the Al Shaheen field on behalf of Qatar Petroleum. Currently there are 1561 personnel working offshore with 242 working at A-Location.