Total is set to bag exploration rights to onshore Block 12 in Oman from the country’s Ministry of Oil and Gas.
Image: Total to win exploration rights of Block 12, marked in red in the map. Photo: courtesy of skeeze from Pixabay.
In this connection, Total and the Omani government have signed a heads of agreement (HoA) under which the French oil and gas major will be awarded 100% working interest and operatorship in the onshore block located in central Oman.
The award for the block, which is believed to have significant prospective gas resources, is expected to be finalized in the coming months.
Block 12 is spread over an area of 10,000 km2 and is located in the northern part of Block 6 and to the south of the Greater Barik area, which contains the Mabrouk North East and Mabrouk West fields.
Total’s exploration program on Block 12 will be made up of seismic acquisition and drilling commitments. The first well in the Omani onshore block is scheduled to be drilled in 2020.
The French oil and gas giant has a 4% stake in Block 6, which is operated by Petroleum Development Oman. The company’s production in Oman in 2018 was 38,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The agreement for the rights of Block 12 follows the milestone reached by Total with the Omani Ministry of Oil and Gas and Oman Oil Company (OOC) to execute their integrated gas project in the country. Under the project, the gas resources of the Greater Barik area in Blocks 10 and 11 will be developed.
Also, part of the Omani gas project is construction of a one train-liquefaction plant with a capacity of about 1Mt per year, which will provide a bunkering service and supply liquefied natural gas as a fuel to marine vessels.
Total chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanné said: “Having been present in Oman for more than 80 years mostly in the oil sector, Total is pleased to have the opportunity to bring its expertise in the natural gas value chain to the Sultanate of Oman.
“After the agreement reached on the integrated gas project of the Greater Barik area, the entry into exploration Block 12 represents a new exploration opportunity to unlock additional gas potential and to contribute to income growth and job creation in the country.”