Exploration & Production

High impact exploration declined in 2023 - Westwood

High impact exploration drilling declined in 2023, but there are still significant reserves of hydrocarbons to be discovered. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The State of Exploration 2024 report from Westwood Global Energy Group reveals that high impact exploration drilling in 2023 declined by 21%, due to energy transition strategies, industry consolidation, rising well costs and reduced activity in former hotspots

The commercial success rate is down seven percentage points on the previous year, with fewer giant discoveries resulting in a year on year decline in the average discovery size, and overall drilling finding costs increasing by a factor of six since 2019 to US$1.2/boe.

The findings also highlight a decrease in the number of companies participating in high impact drilling (down from 99 in 2019 to 68 in 2023), with supermajors and NOCs continuing to account for the majority of high impact well equity and leading in terms of both discovered resource and commercial success rate.

However, there are still significant volumes of hydrocarbons to be discovered, and cycle times are reducing.

Graeme Bagley, head of Global Exploration and Appraisal at Westwood said, " High oil prices previously led to high levels of exploration drilling. The appetite for exploration is still there but energy transition strategies are having a significant impact on the way the companies choose to replenish their reserves base, with industry consolidation and new technologies also having a part to play.”

Baker Hughes wins Algeria compressor contract

The compressor trains will be used in the Hassi R'Mel gas field in Algeria. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Baker Hughes has been awarded a major contract from Algeria’s SONATRACH to supply 20 compression trains for three gas boosting stations within the Hassi R’Mel gas field in Algeria

The contract is part of an order awarded to a consortium between Baker Hughes and Tecnimont.

Located 550 km south of Algiers, Hassi R’ Mel is the largest gas field in Algeria and one of the largest in the world, representing a key source of energy supply for Algeria and Europe. The compressor trains, based on Frame 5 gas turbine and BCL compressor technology, are expected to play an important role in the project by boosting and stabilising the pressure of natural gas and increasing production at site, which will enhance Algeria’s domestic energy system and economy as well as Europe’s energy security.

Major gas supplier

The new gas-boosting stations are part of Algeria’s ambitious plan to strengthen its role in the global energy market and its commitment to natural gas as a key energy source for socio-economic development. In 2022, Algeria led Africa in natural gas production, reaching a record 132.7 billion cubic meters. According to Bloomberg NEF, Algeria became the second-largest gas supplier to Europe in 2023, further strengthening the country’s role in enhancing the energy security of the continent, particularly in Italy where Algeria represents the biggest single source of import.

The compressors will be manufactured at Baker Hughes’ facilities in Italy.

“Today’s announcement marks a notable milestone in our historical collaboration with SONATRACH for key energy projects in Algeria that have played a crucial role in supplying reliable energy to Europe,” said Lorenzo

Simonelli, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes. “We have long believed that it is critical to increase gas within the overall global energy mix to help achieve a lower-carbon economy. This project helps to solve for energy producers’ multi-faceted challenge of driving sustainable energy development as energy demand increases. We are proud to support such a critical energy project in partnership with Tecnimont.”

ADNOC acquires interests in Rovuma supergiant gas basin

an oil rig with oil and gas industry backdrop

The concession's advanced sustainability scopes are one of the prime reasons that locked the deal for ADNOC. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

In its first strategic investment in Mozambique, ADNOC has acquired 10% of Galp’s interest in the Area 4 concession of the Rovuma basin in Mozambique

The acquisition will allow ADNOC a share of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced from the concession.

With the operational Coral South Floating LNG (FLNG) facility, the planned Coral North FLNG development and the planned Rovuma LNG onshore facilities, the concession has a combined production capacity of more than 25 mn tonnes per annum. It is one of the world’s largest gas discoveries in 15 years.

A one-of-a-kind facility in Africa, the Coral South development is currently in operation, with a production capacity of up to 3.5 mtpa of LNG. Once up and running, the Coral North development is capable of adding another 3.5 mtpa of LNG to that. It will have a FLNG facility to process and liquefy natural gas for export.

The modular, electric-drive design of the 18-mtpa Rovuma Onshore LNG development is capable of challenging industry standards when it comes to carbon intensity reduction from LNG production.

The concession's advance sustainability scopes are one of the prime reasons that locked the deal for ADNOC, which aims to achieve a just transition-driven net zero by 2045.

Integrated global gas business

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC executive director for low carbon solutions and international growth, said, “For over fifty years, ADNOC has been a reliable and responsible global provider of LNG and we are building on this role with this landmark investment in the world-class Rovuma supergiant gas basin in Mozambique as we deliver on our international growth strategy.

"Natural gas plays an important role to meet growing global demand with lower emissions compared to other fossil fuels and this acquisition supports our efforts to build an integrated global gas business to ensure we continue providing a secure, reliable and responsible supply of natural gas.”

QatarEnergy extends presence in Egypt

QatarEnergy is acquiring an interest in two exploration blocks offshore Egypt. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

QatarEnergy is expanding its presence in Egypt with the signing of an agreement with ExxonMobil to acquire a 40% participating interest in two exploration blocks offshore Egypt

Under the terms of the agreement, QatarEnergy will acquire a 40% working interest in each of the “Cairo” and “Masry” Offshore Concession Agreements, while operator ExxonMobil will retain the remaining 60% working interest.

The Cairo and Masry offshore exploration blocks were awarded to ExxonMobil in January 2023 and cover an area of approximately 11,400 sq km in water depths of 2,000 to 3,000 metres.

His Excellency Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the president and CEO of QatarEnergy said, “I am pleased with our entry into the Cairo and Masry offshore exploration blocks as they expand QatarEnergy’s presence in the Arab Republic of Egypt and extend our ambitious exploration programme in-country.”

QatarEnergy has been expanding its overseas upstream portfolio in recent years, entering Egypt’s upstream sector in 2021 with the acquisition of interests in two offshore exploration blocks in the Egyptian side of the Red Sea from operator Shell. It has also made recent acquisitions in Mauritania and Lebanon.

Chinese companies dominate Iraq bidding round

Licenses for 29 projects are on offer. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Chinese companies have won 10 out of the 13 projects awarded so far in the three-day bidding process for the Iraq’s sixth licensing round, according to press reports, with Iraqi Kurdish companies KAR Group winning a further three

Winning bidders are reported to include CNOOC, ZhenHua, Anton Oilfield Services, Sinopec, Geo-Jade, Zhongman Petroleum and Natural Gas Group (ZPEC) and UEG.

Licences for 29 projects are on offer, a key objective being to ramp up output of natural gas for domestic use. Iraq is currently dependent on Iran for much of its gas supply. Iraq is looking to derive more than 3,459mn standard cubic feet of gas per day and over one million barrels of oil per day from these licensing rounds, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.

Iraq is the second largest OPEC oil producer after Saudi Arabia, currently producing around 4.3mn bpd. However, it is yet to harness the full potential of its huge oil and gas reserves, with security concerns and unfavourable contract terms acting as a deterrent to badly needed foreign investment. Gas flaring is also a serious issue. In 2022, the country was the second-largest source of gas flaring worldwide, according to World Bank data, although some initiatives are now underway to capture and use the associated gas rather than flaring it.

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