As of April 2020, China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) is seeking partners in its BC9 and BCD10 contracts in the Gabon Coastal Basin offshore Gabon. The company operates the contracts BC9 and BCD10 with a 100% interest since Shell exited the licences in November 2019. The company attempts to farm out up to 50% stake prior to drill two high impact wells between late 2020 and 2021, one in each block. According to CNOOC all commitments have been met in both contracts. The company is to enter, in September 2020, in the 2-year fourth exploration period of the BC9 contract with the possibility to be extended up to three years. The BCD10 licence holds the multi Tcf Leopard gas discovery (2014) and is in a gas holding period until 2026 with minimal work commitments.  CNOOC identified, both in post-salt and in pre-salt sequences, some 25 leads and/or prospects of which two are drill-ready. The "Tigre" prospect is to be drilled in about 2,000 m of water depth in the BC9 block targeting an approx. 100 sq km area in the pre-salt Gamba sandstones of Aptian age. The "Seal" prospect is to be drilled in approx. 400 m of water depth in the southeastern corner of the BCD10 block targeting the carbonate of the Albian Madiela Group formation in a large 3-way structure with mean recoverable resources estimated at 356 MMbo. CNOOC is also working on the Leopard gas discovery studying for a further appraisal program to determine the feasibility of a standalone development.    CNOOC has open a data room since March 2020 with an anticipated bid deadline in mid-2020.  Contact details:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Lucas Ong Business Development AdvisorÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  E-mail:Â Lucas.Ong@intl.cnoocltd.com Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Tel: +44 1895-555319  Ben Kilner Team Lead, Global ExplorationÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  E-mail: Ben.Kilner@intl.cnoocltd.com Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Tel: +44 1895-555310  Â   Background information  The blocks BC9 andÂ BCD10Â were initially granted to Shell on September 2007. BC9 and BCD10 blocks are mainly in deep waters, covering a total of some 13,400 sq km of which about 530 sq km are in shallow waters. CGG acquired a 6,000 sqkm 3D seismic program between 2010 and 2011. CNOOC farmed in both blocks in 2012. The partners drilled a first wildcat N'Komi Marin 1 in 2014, the well intersected a 200 m paleo-oil column in the pre-salt Gamba formation. It was followed by a success with the Leopard gas and condensate discovery made in October 2014. The latter drilled to TD of 5,063 m intersected a substantial gas column of 200 m of net gas pay in the Gamba formation. The discovery was confirmed by the appraisal Leopard 2 suspended in January 2016. CGG completed in March 2016 the acquisition of a 3D seismic program in theÂ BCD10Â block.    Six exploration wells were drilled before 2007, in the areas covered by the actual BC9 and BCD10 blocks, targeting post-salt objectives such as the Cenomanian Cap Lopez formation and the Albian Madiela Group formation. All were dry except theÂ Grand Large N'Kendji Marine 1Â wildcat, which encountered non-commercial oil in February 1985. The well, drilled by Elf Gabon, is located 85 km west of Sette Cama in 163 m of water. It bottomed in the Albian Madiela Group at a depth of 3,893m.
CNOOC is seeking partners in its BC9 and BCD10 contracts in the Gabon Coastal Basin offshore Gabon. The company operates the contracts BC9 and BCD10 with a 100% interest since Shell exited the licences in November 2019. 