On 27 November 2019, local sources relay that Shell Gabon (Shell) withdraws from the deep offshore permits BC9 and BCD10 transferring its stake to partner China National Offshore Oil Corp. International Ltd (CNOOC). The blocks are the place of the second pre-salt discovery, Leopard 1, made in 2014 in Gabonese deep waters. The discovery contains a substantial net gas pay thickness of 200 m in a pre-salt Gamba and Dentale reservoir. A Shell official talked about it as potentially multi-Tcf commercial discovery that was likely confirmed early 2016 with the success of the appraisal Leopard 2.  Shell sold its last two assets in Gabon and thus this withdrawal marks the exit of the country for the major company.  CNOOC operates BC9 and BCD10 with 100% interest.  Background information  On 13 September 2007, ShellÂ was granted two adjacent offshore blocks the BC9 (5,970 sq km) and the BCD10 (7,055 sq km). Between October 2010 and June 2011, Shell conducted a 3D seismic acquisition over both blocks. The 6,000 sq km 3D seismic campaign was carried out by contractor CGGVeritas with the âCGG Symphonyâ vessel.    On 24 July 2012, CNOOC entered in bothÂ BC9Â andÂ BCD10Â blocks when Shell sold 25% of its interest to the Chinese company. Shell remained operator with a 75% interest while CNOOC reimbursed part of the exploration costs spent by Shell before the deal.    On 22 June 2014, Shell Gabon suspended the NâKomi 1 well located in theÂ northern part of the BC9Â permit, Gabon Coastal Basin after reaching TD in the pre-salt layer.
After thinking of selling-down for a while, Shell has reportedly elected to withdraw from its last Gabonese holdings, deepwater BC9 and BCD10 (home to the 2014 Leopard gas find). Its 75% transfers to partner CNOOCI (->100%). Amended PSCs signed.