CONOCOPHILLIPS, CHEVRON, PETROBRAS and Tullow Oil are among eight international players vying for new exploration blocks in waters off Sao Tome & Principe, according to the head of the West African island nations state-run producer, ANP.

Over the past four decades, the operations now owned by Chevron Corp. in Angolas Cabinda province have crept from just offshore to 80 km out to sea. But as it drills further out and deeper down, the company is looking to a model 5,000 km across the Atlantic Ocean to the coast of South America for guidance.p>Over the past four decades, the operations now owned by Chevron Corp. in Angolas Cabinda province have crept from just offshore to 80 km out to sea. But as it drills further out and deeper down, the company is looking to a model 5,000 km across the Atlantic Ocean to the coast of South America for guidance.

Egypt has become a big gas producer in recent years, attracting huge investment from the majors. But upstream conditions are ripe too for aspiring and upcoming international oil and gas companies.

AEGEAN ENERGY HAS acquired 100% of the East Magawish block concession in the Gulf of Suez from Thani Egypt East Magawish.