Apache Corporation has announced that Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum has finalised the extension of the Khalda Offset and East Bahariya concessions in the Western Desert. The extensions will permit Apache to continue its exploration program across approximately 1.5mn acres.

State-owned oil major China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is holding negotiations over the development of the Maysan (Misan) oil fields in southern Iraq, according to the Middle-Eastern nation's oil minister Hussain al-Shahristani.

GULFSANDS PETROLEUM HAS provided the following update on the company's operations at Block 26, Syria where Gulfsands holds a 50 per cent interest and acts as operator. The Yousefieh 3 vertical appraisal well, located approximately 500 meters to the south-east of the Yousefieh 1 discovery well,encountered the top of the Cretaceous Massive Formation at a measured depth("MD") of 1946 meters (1530 meters true vertical depth sub surface

AMINEX ANNOUNCED THAT the South Malak -1 well in the West Esh El Mellaha PSC area, onshore Gulf of Suez, Egypt, has now been drilled to a total depth of 11,200 feet.

Oil shows were encountered in Pre-Miocene Matulla sand stringers from 10,858 to 10,900 feet and high gas readings were encountered from 10,300 feet through to total depth.

GULF KEYSTONE HAS announced the results of a preliminary evaluation of the Shaikan-1 discovery located in northern Iraq. Given the materiality of the discovery,the Company felt it prudent to seek independent evaluation of the Shaikan-1 well, despite being at an early stage of evaluation and testing. Accordingly,