E&P

The last date for bids submission is 8 January 2027.

When participating in bid rounds, investors usually seek access to proven petroleum systems, key exploratory leads and significant cross-border energy assets

The Joint Oil Block and the strategic Zarat Discovery in the Gabes-Tripoli Basin that is up for bidding by Joint Oil and Moyes & Co promises these offerings with the high-potential 3,000 sq km opportunity.

Bid round launch and presentation

Joint Oil Exploration, Exploitation and Petroleum Services Company (Joint Oil) and its appointed advisor, Moyes & Co. (Moyes) have announced the Joint Oil Block and Zarat Discovery bid round from 7 September to 31 December 2026 

The bid round opportunity will be presented at the World Energy Summit in London on 29-30 September 2026. The last date for bids submission is 8 January 2027. Winning bidders will be informed by 26 February 2027, with formal awards expected by 30 April 2027.

Spanning an area of 3,000 sq km at water depths of 80-120m, the offshore acreage available for the bid round is located in the prolific Gabes-Tripoli Basin of the central Mediterranean. This can potentially advance cross-border energy cooperation between Tunisia and Libya.

Commercial framework and seismic data assets

The commercial packages that make up the bid offer comes in the form of an exploration and production sharing agreement (EPSA). With 6,500 km of 2D and 1,900km of 3D seismic data available for the acreage, it unlocks access to new plays, leads, and prospects: 

- Zohra-1 (1976)

- El Amal South 1 (1999)

- Besmah-1 (2002)

- El Amal North 1 (2002)

- Zarat North 1 (2010)

- El Bouri, El Jurf and Bihr El Salam in Libya

- Hasdrubal, Ashtart, Miskar & Didon in Tunisia

The development of the Zarat Discovery — which straddles the Tunisia-Libya border — is a unitised oil and gas resource. This will be governed by a development and production sharing agreement (DPSA), unitisation agreement (UA), unit operating agreement (UOA), and operating services contract (OSC).

Strategic location

The concession is blessed with a highly strategic offshore location that lies close to several major producing fields across the Sabratha-Gabes Basin, including Al Jurf, Bahr Essalam, and Bouri offshore Libya, as well as Ashtart, Didon, and Miskar offshore Tunisia. This positioning enhances the project’s long-term value proposition through access to established regional infrastructure, operational synergies, and export pathways.

BluEnergies, alongwith TTE, are working to identify drillable prospects in blocks from the Harper Basin offshore Liberia as part of their work programme

Ongoing work on the blocks LB-26, LB-30 and LB-31 involves data reprocessing for which TGS and GeoPartners have been deployed. About 6,167 sq kms of 3-D seismic data has been reprocessed by TGS to enhance the seismic character/definition and the AVO content (Direct Hydrocarbon Indicator) of the original 3-D seismic survey. 

High-resolution MBES survey

GeoPartners has deployed a R/V GYRE vessel to conduct within the blocks a Multi-Beam Eco Sounder survey (MBES) comprising an area of 4,045 sq km in water depths ranging from 500 meters to 3,500 meters. Completion of this acquisition is being aimed in so that the integration process can be accelerated to achieve a refined 3-D seismic data interpretation.

The MBES can map underwater terrain, aiding in identifying sea bottom anomalies, supporting the safe selection of future drilling locations. It can identify seabed geomorphologies (pockmarks, mud volcanoes, faults, etc.) and the presence of anomalous features (carbonates, outcrops, bacterial mats, etc.). This special survey can perform water column imaging for the detection of anomalies related to seepage of hydrocarbons through the sea bottom.

Seabed Geochemical Sampling is conducted through piston coring to collect evidence of migrated mature hydrocarbons (detection of fluorescent/natural oil compounds, hydrocarbon chromatography, thermogenic origin, etc.).

Geological context

Sergio Laura, BluEnergies’ Vice President of Exploration, said, “The West Africa Transform Margin, where the Harper basin is located, and its conjugate South American Margin are regions where basin floor fan plays are being actively and successfully explored, developed and produced. The recent, hectic activity by major oil companies in securing licenses for deepwater acreage along the entire Africa west margin is confirmation that the early move by BluEnergies in the Harper basin (2023) was a valid one. The Jubilee field in Ghana, the Venus field in Namibia, and the recent discoveries offshore Cote d’Ivoire have proven the significance of basin floor fan plays along the African margin.”

The agreement was signed in the Angolan capital Luanda. (Image source: QatarEnergy)

Interests in Blocks 8 and 22 offshore the Republic of Angola has been secured by QatarEnergy, alongside its partners Shell and Sonangol E&P

The energy major from Qatar signed an agreement with Angola’s National Agency for Oil, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG) to formalise the interests. 

Under the agreement, and subject to the relevant governmental approvals and final contractual arrangements, QatarEnergy will hold a 30% working interest, while Shell (the operator) will hold 50%, and Sonangol will hold 20% in the two offshore blocks.

Commenting on this occasion, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said, “QatarEnergy is pleased to sign this agreement and to establish a presence in the energy sector of the Republic of Angola as part of our international upstream exploration strategy and growth efforts. We would like to thank the Angolan authorities, and our partners Shell and Sonangol, for their cooperation and support. We look forward to a longstanding and fruitful partnership.”

The agreement was signed in the Angolan capital Luanda on the sidelines of the Angola Oil & Gas Conference. 

Previously, the government of Egypt approved for Qatar Energy a 40% stake in an offshore concession where Eni is the operator with 60% interest.

The concession is applicable for the North Rafah offshore block located in the Mediterranean Sea, off the northeastern coast of Egypt. It spans nearly 3,000 sq km in water depths of up to 450 meters.

“We are pleased with our new position in the North Rafah offshore block, which further strengthens our presence in Egypt and marks another important step in advancing our ambitious international exploration strategy,” said Al-Kaabi.

“We extend our thanks to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Mineral Resources in Egypt, and our partner Eni for their valued support and cooperation. We look forward to working together to achieve our exploration objectives,” he added. 

Angola's largest privately owned energy company, Etu Energias has signed a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC or Chevron) for the acquisition of a 31% Working Interest (WI) in Block 14 and a 15.5% WI in Block 14K offshore Cabinda

This follows the exercise of pre-emption rights by Etu Energias, as an existing partner in both licenses. Etu Energias currently holds a 29% WI in Block 14 and a 14.5% WI in Block 14K. With completion of the acquisition, Etu Energias will become the largest interest holder of one of Angola's longest established deepwater producing assets. The company is also aiming to assume the role of Operator on Block
14, subject to regulatory approval.

The acquisition is supported by a framework agreement with BW Energy and Chariot Limited, and will be funded by a debt facility provided by Shell Western Supply and Trading Ltd..

The transaction can take up to early 2027, following customary conditions including approval by the Agencia Nacional de Petroleo Gas e Biocombustíveis (ANPG), other regulatory entities and the receipt of required third-party consents.

Edson R. dos Santos, chairman and chief executive officer, Etu Energias, said, "This transaction is a very important milestone in the development of Etu Energias as an Angolan company with a global vision. It’s about more than production and reserves; it’s about building enduring capabilities in Angola and developing deepwater operating expertise that can create value for many years to come.”

“Block 14 has been producing for more than a quarter of a century and we believe it still holds significant value. We have an in-depth knowledge of these assets, having been a partner on the licenses for many years, and believe that we can unlock further value from them for the benefit of Etu Energias, our partners and the economy of Angola going forward.”

"We are grateful to Chevron for a professional process and for the operating standards they have established over many years. We look forward to working with the ANPG and our partners to complete this transaction." 

Block 14 is a producing deepwater license offshore Cabinda in water depths of 200 to 1,600 metres. The block has produced more than 900 million barrels of high-quality, Brent-linked crude since first oiil in 1999, with production peaking at approximately 200 kbopd.

Production comes from nine fields developed through the Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco and Tombua-Landana hub facilities (BBLT & TL), supported by active waterflooding and well intervention programmes. Abandonment obligations for Block 14 are fully funded through existing escrow provisions.

Block 14K contains the Lianzi field, a cross-border unitised development between Angola and the Republic of Congo, tied back to Block 14 infrastructure.