Africa Oil acquires additional interests in Block 3B/4B offshore South Africa

Orange Basin-situated Block 3B/4B offshore South Africa sees further reshuffling of interests as Africa Oil Corporation has acquired 1.0% additional share from partner Azinam Limited, a subsidiary of Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas Limited 

Last year, Africa Oil had announced a farm down agreement for Block 3B/4B with TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy, which includes the transfer of operatorship of the Block to TotalEnergies. Total enjoys a 33.00% interest, followed by a 24.00% interest by QatarEnergy, 19.75% interest by Ricocure, 18.00% interest by Africa Oil, and a 5.25% interest by Eco Atlantic. 

First drilling

“This transaction is another step in delivering the strategy of increasing direct interest in Africa Oil’s key assets, including our opportunity set in the Orange Basin, a region with high levels of industry interest and activity. We thank Eco Atlantic's management for their collaborative approach in working with us since 2017, and we look forward to further progress towards the drilling of the first exploration well on Block 3B/4B,” said Roger Tucker, CEO, Africa Oil.

While an Environmental Authorisation has been granted by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy for the Republic of South Africa, the partners are currently awaiting relevant approvals to begin drilling of as many as five exploration wells. Approximately 14,000 sq km of 2D seismic and 10,800 sq km of 3D seismic make up Block 3B/4B, with the greatest prospects lying in an estimated water depth of 1,500m. It is said that the Block holds resources of approximately four billion barrels of oil equivalent.