Sweden based Oil & Gas firm, Maha Energy AB (Maha) announced in a statement that it has been awarded a new exploration block by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals of the Sultanate of Oman.
Block 70 is an onshore block that includes the shallow undeveloped Mafraq heavy oil field. The Block is located in the middle of the prolific and oil producing Ghaba Salt Basin in the central part of Oman.
The Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) for Block 70 covers an initial exploration period of three years with an optional extension period of another three years.
In case of a commercial oil or gas discovery, the EPSA can be transformed into a fifteen year production license which can be extended for another five years.
In case of a commercial discovery the Oman Government Oil Company has a right to acquire up to a 30% interest in Block 70 against refunding the pro rata share of past expenditure. The initial work commitments during the first period include geological studies, seismic reprocessing and well commitments.
The Block covers an area of 639 Sq.km and is covered by both 2D and 3D seismic data that has been acquired by previous operators has been made available to Maha. Eight wells have been drilled within the block boundary, five of which are on the Mafraq oil field.
Maha will (through a wholly owned subsidiary) be the operator of the Block and hold a 100% working interest.
The Block agreement is scheduled to be signed on 1 October 2020 and is further subject to a Royal Decree.
The Mafraq oil field was discovered by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in 1988 and was further delineated by four wells and 3D seismic in stages until 2010.
Two wells were placed on pump production tests, of which one was placed on an extended test in order to prove long term productivity. The Mafraq field is estimated by third parties to contain between 185 – 280 million barrels of original oil in place (OIP). The productive reservoir is shallow, at approximately 430 m. below ground level.
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