STATOIL HAS CONFIRMED that it has been awarded operatorships and participation interests in a total of five ultra-deepwater blocks in Angola’s frontier pre-salt play.p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">STATOIL HAS CONFIRMED that it has been awarded operatorships and participation interests in a total of five ultra-deepwater blocks in Angola’s frontier pre-salt play.

INDEPENDENT EXPLORER PETROCELTIC International has hit a 155 m gross gas column during drilling of the AT-4 well in the Illizi basin in Algeria.p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">INDEPENDENT EXPLORER PETROCELTIC International has hit a 155 m gross gas column during drilling of the AT-4 well in the Illizi basin in Algeria.

AFRICA-FOCUSED OIL player Afren aims to increase its average production this year to 40,000 boepd, with an exit rate of 55,000 boepd, from about 14,320 boepd in 2010.p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">AFRICA-FOCUSED OIL player Afren aims to increase its average production this year to 40,000 boepd, with an exit rate of 55,000 boepd, from about 14,320 boepd in 2010.

AFRICA OIL CORP, together with Range Resource Ltd and Lion Energy Corp, its joint venture partners, has entered into amending agreements with the Government of Puntland, represented by the Puntland Petroleum and Mineral Agency, in respect of the production sharing agreements (“PSAs”) for the Dharoor Valley Exploration Area and the Nugaal Valley Exploration Area.