On 16 May 2019, partner Ophir Energy announced it sold its 23.33% working interest to the remaining consortium partners in the Murphy operated CNH-R01-L04-A5.CS/2016 contract block for USD 35 million in cash.Â      The deal is pending formal      governmental approvals.     The previous working interest breakdown in the contract was Murphy Sur, operator with 30% working interest, PC Carigali Mexico Operations with 23.34% working interest, Ophir Mexico Offshore Exploration with 23.33% working interest, and Sierra Offshore Exploration (DEA) with a 23.33% working interest.Â       Once formal governmental approvals are granted the working interest breakdown will be Murphy Sur, operator with 40% working interest, PC Carigali Mexico Operations with 30% working interest, and Sierra Offshore Exploration (DEA) with a 30% working interest.Â       It is assumed that the partners had the first right of refusal for the working interest due to the pending take-over of Ophir by Medco.      On 10 March 2017, the CNH signed the Official Award for an exploration and production license contract with the consortium of Murphy, Ophir, PC Carigali, and Sierra for the CNH-R01-L04-A5.CS/2016, Area 5 - Salina block the consortium won through the CNH-R01-LO4/2015 Bid Round.   Â In March 2019, Ophir Energy plc accepted an enhanced take-over proposal by PT Medco Energi Global PTE Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk, based in Jakarta, Indonesia.  In February 2019, Murphy suspended oil and gas discovery Cholula 1EXP directional new-field wildcat (NFW) in the CNH-R01-L04-A5.CS/2016 contract block.
Ophir has sold its 23.33% in CNH-R01-L04-A5.CS/2016 (block 5, is home to the Cholula discovery), to partners Murphy (op ->40%), Petronas (->30%), Wintershall Dea (->30%) for USD 35 MM.