In December 2018, media reports indicated that Eni will sign an Exploration & Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) with the Omani Ministry of Oil and Gas (MOG) for Block 47 (Jebel Hammah). Salim Nasser Al Aufi, undersecretary at the MOG, said negotiations had been finalised and that the agreement would be signed soon. The onshore block (8,524 sq km) is located in the northern part of the country, in the Governorates of Ad Dhahirah and Ad Dakhiliyah. <P />Together with three other blocks, the acreage was offered in Oman's 2017 Licensing Round, which was launched on 20 September 2017 and closed on 31 December 2017. The EPSA will be Eni's second in Oman, after it signed an agreement for Block 52 (JuzorAl Hallaniyyat) in October 2017.<P />Block 47 (Jebel Hammah) has been held by various operators in the past, including Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Amoco, RAK Petroleum and DNO. Tight gas is the predominant play within the block and to date, gas has been discovered in the Cretaceous Natih and Shuaiba Formations and gas and condensate in the Cambrian Amin Formation.<P />Within the tight gas play is an unconventional sub-play for the Natih E. This unit is a source interval and also a reservoir. Development of unconventional gas is only beginning in the Sultanate and the Natih E has been recognized as a prime target.
Media reports indicated Eni will sign an EPSA with the Omani Ministry of Oil and Gas (MOG) for Block 47 (Jebel Hammah).