Oil And Gas Affairs News

Minister of Oil and Gas Affairs and Head of the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) of Bahrain Dr. Abdulhussein Bin Ali Mirza has said that exploration and drilling for oil in the offshore areas would start by early 2009; he added that 2008 would be spent studying the areas geologically and geophysically. Three companies from among 24 that were competing had reportedly won the right to explore in four offshore areas. [Source: http://english.bna.bh]

Eleven international oil firms have expressed an interest in efforts to boost production at Bahrain's onshore Awali field, the Oil and Gas Affairs Minister revealed recently. Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza’s statement followed the announcement that US firm Occidental and Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production have been awarded the right to explore for oil and gas off the shores of the country. Some reports have suggested that new technologies could double the amount of oil produced at the field from its current level of 35,000 barrels per day. Bids are expected by the end of the month. The latest round of bidding comes on the heels of the recently concluded tender process for four offshore exploration blocks comprising Bahrain's entire explorable acreage.

Three-dimensional seismological operations at Iranian blocks in Caspian Sea in preparation for spudding two wells are underway and drilling operations are to begin on February 1, according to PIN. Deputy minister of oil for Caspian Sea oil and gas affairs told Petroenergy Information Network that a bid is underway for choosing a foreign contractor with experience in working at deep waters and the results will be announced in two weeks. After drilling test well, exploration wells would be drilled at a depth of 800 m from the sea level and will continue up to 6,000 m below the seabed?. Iran Alborz semi-floating platform will bee used for drilling operations whose construction is almost complete, the article noted.