FIRST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (FAR) and Shell Exploration Company have agreed to conduct an exploration program in the Sangomar Offshore, Rufisque Offshore and Sangomar deep Offshore Blocks off the coast of Senegal.

MAUREL & PROM HAS announced a fresh oil discovery in Gabon as it posted surging 2008 profits and reaffirmed plans to buy up assets made cheaper by a sharp drop in oil prices. "We are looking at farm ins, or partnerships in another company's oilfield,” chairman Jean-Francois Henin.

TULLOW OIL HAS bought 25 per cent interest in LB-15, LB-16 and LB-17 licenses in Liberia in January. The company joined US independent Anadarko Petroleum and Spain’s Repsol YPF to explore in Liberia.

NOBLE ENERGY HAS made an oil discovery on block O at the Carmen prospect, offshore Equatorial Guinea. The well encountered approximately 7.9 m of net oil pay along with 4 m of net gas pay, the company says.

TOTAL UPSTREAM NIGERIA has started production from the Akpo deepwater development ahead of the planned start-up date.

The field has proved and probable reserves estimated at 620 MMbbl of condensate (around 50° API), and more than 1 tcf of gas.