Eric Hathorn, exploration director, Cairn Energy, told delegates at Africa Oil Week that Senegal is making progress towards first oil by 2021-2023 with up to 1bn barrels of recoverable hydrocarbons

Abderdeen-based Xodus Group has won two contracts for conducting environmental and social impact assements (ESIA) for offshore blocks off the coast of Senegal

Ophir Energy, in partnership with GEPetrol and the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons, has signed an oil and gas exploration contract for an Equatorial Guinea offshore oil and gas block

Simba Essel Energy Inc has advised that its partner Essel Group Middle East has signed an agreement with Bell Geospace to conduct a comprehensive airborne FTG (Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry) survey across Simba’s exploration block in Liberia

The contract will see Bell Geospace fly Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry (FTG) surveys across 2,962km² of the onshore coastal strip of Liberia lying within the known extent of the Roberts-Bassa basin. 

Bringing its considerable strength in high resolution gravity technology, Bell Geospace will commence survey flights during last quarter 2017 and early 2018.   The outcome of the surveys will provide processing and interpretive surveys resulting in 3D imaging of the complex sub-surface geology of this highly prospective exploration block.  

Bell Geospace will use a Basler BT-67 flying at low altitude to conduct the survey.

Mr. Hassan Hassan, Managing Director, Operations, Simba Essel Energy Inc. comments: “We are very pleased to once again work with Bell Geospace and look forward to beginning the next stage in the development of our Liberian Hydrocarbon Reconnaissance Permit. Acquiring FTG data over the onshore/shallow water will provide valuable data which will be critical in planning the future seismic program"

Chris Bredenhann, Africa advisory oil and gas leader, PwC, has called for African national oil companies (NOCs) to rethink their business models and strategies in order to avoid dependence on a single energy source and to rebalance budgets