Sonatrach is understood to have been granted an extension (assumed two-years) to its El Ouabed II exploration licence, located in the under-explored Benoud Trough. The prolongation is effective from September 2018 and comes with a part-relinquishment of ~4,600 sq km of the northern part of the original 23,980 sq km block. The licence was originally awarded to the company in September 2015. It had been offered up as part of the 4th National and International Bid Round in 2014, but failed to attract any successful bids. Following a 2D seismic campaign, the company drilled the Mammi Sud 1 (MAMS 1) NFW. It was P&A dry in June 2016, after reaching a TD of 3,570m in the Ordovician. A second well, Oued El Aazzari 1 (OAZ 1) was spudded on 6 September 2018. Sonatrach operates El Ouabed II with 100% equity. 
Algeria, El Ouabed II