As announced on 27 November 2017, Eni has taken over operatorship of the Cabinda North licence from Sonangol P&P. The announcement bring to an end, the protracted negotiations regards the partnership for the block. The interests in the licence are understood to be as follows: ENI (operator) with a 48% interest, Sonangol P&P with a 20% interest, Soco International plc with a 17% interest and Angola Consulting Resources with a 15% interest. The 2,400 sq km Cabinda Norte block (formerly Cabinda A) is located in the north of Angola, adjoining the Congo Brazzaville border. The Cabinda onshore area is underlain by a graben separated from the main Atlantic rift by a basement high. The graben, known in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the Lemba Trough, has its own kitchen, and is a proven oil play in Cabinda and in DRC. In the sixties Chevron, then Gulf, explored extensively in the area and drilled an estimated 69 wildcats and four outposts in the 4,625 sq km area which is now under license. Gulf made one gas and five oil discoveries considered marginal at the time, an additional seven wells had oil shows. New exploration techniques (3D and much improved 2D seismic), better geological models and new concepts, and the excellent wildcat coverage for calibration of the models, have all contributed to the understanding of the area and itâs prospectively  On 15 April 2015 Botelho de Vasconcelos, the Angolan minister of petroleum signed a decree extending the exploration phase of the licence. The extension runs from 1 April 2015 to 1 April 2018. Contractual obligations for the three year renewal period include the drilling of four new field wildcats and two appraisal wells. To date 27 November 2017, the last well to have been drilled within the licence area was Dinge 20-7 completed in January 2014, suggesting the potential for four new field wildcats and two appraisals in the not too distant future.  Background information On 23 March 2017, Soco International plc (Soco), a partner to Sonangol P&P in the Cabinda North licence reported that the Cabinda Norte group was still in discussions regards the new partnership for the licence. According to Soco the licence at the time was operated by Sonangol P&P with a 30% interest, partners Eni Angola Exploration BV (Eni), Soco and Angola Consulting Resources (ACR) held 38%, 17% and 15% interests respectively (the group was understood to have been in place from 29 of June 2015). However, according to Eniâs 27 November 2017, release Eni prior to the announcement held a 15% interest suggesting that the interests in the licence were as follows: Sonangol P&P (operator) with a 41% interest, Eni with a 15% Soco International plc with a 17% interest, Inpex Corp (Teikoku Oil Co. Ltd) (held a 17% interest) and Angola Consulting Resources with a 10% interest. 
Angola (Lower Congo B.) Dinge