Frontier Resources Oman Limited has gained 100 per cent working interest of Block 38 in the Mudayy Block, Oman
The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontier Resources International Plc, signed the six-year exploration and production sharing agreement (EPSA) with the government of Oman. The Block encompasses an area of 17,425 sq km and is located in the Dhofar region of southwest Oman and the southern part of the Rub Al Khali Basin.
Despite only three wells being drilled so far, the block is considered prospective for oil and gas due to its proximity to the producing Block 6, operated by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).
Following its evaluation of vintage seismic, well data and regional geologic studies, Frontier has also predicted that the Block contains an untested salt basin with exploration potential analogous to the other proven salt basins of Oman.
Primary targets include the carbonate stringers embedded in Ara Group salts, which lie at depths of between 3,000 and 5,000 metres. Meanwhile, secondary targets include the shallower Haima Play which had minor oil shows during drilling and the deeper Buah Formation which proved to be gas productive elsewhere in Oman.
Frontier will conduct geophysical and geological studies during the first phase of the agreement to determine the range of drilling opportunities that may be available. This information will then be used to design a 3D seismic survey of the results, leading to the drilling of a well if a suitable structure is identified.
In early 2013, the company plans to start the reprocessing of older seismic data and the acquisition of aerogravity and magnetic surveys of the block as preparation for the 3D seismic survey.
