According to local media reports in mid-February 2020, quoting a senior official at the General Department of Petroleum, Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has awarded Cambodian Resources Energy Development Co Ltd a petroleum exploration contract for Block D, located offshore in the Khmer Trough.  The company is expected to commence studies in the new acreage within 2020, prior to proceeding to potential drilling at a later stage. The contract will have a three-year initial exploration period. The contract agreement was reportedly signed in December 2019.  Cambodian Resource Energy Development is a Chinese private company which was registered with Cambodian Ministry of Commerce in April 2017. Preliminary contract negotiations with MME were reported in March 2018.  Block D has an area of approximately 5,300 sq km, entirely in shallow water. The block was previously operated by China Petrotech Holdings Limited (CPHL) Cambodia, a subsidiary of Mirach Energy. The PSC for the block was terminated in May 2016. No exploration drilling has been conducted in the block to date, but CPHL acquired a 3D seismic survey in 2006.  Block D is located immediately northeast of KrisEnergy-operated Block A (Apsara field), which is expected to come onstream in 2020 as the first oil development in the country.  The Cambodian government is targeting to attract new investors to advance the national oil and gas sector. As of February 2020, negotiations were underway with EnerCam Resources Co Ltd for a Production Sharing Agreement over onshore Block VIII. EnerCam is a subsidiary of Canadian company Angkor Resources Corp.  Background Information  Block D is located north of Kris Energyâs Block A. CPHL completed a 363 sq km 3D seismic survey over Block D in late December 2006. Data acquisition started in mid-November 2006, using the PGS âNordic Explorerâ S/V, but operations were delayed by mechanical problems with the vessel and high seas and strong winds caused by typhoon âDurianâ. The company was planning to drill a well in the permit, however the plan did not materialize.  CPHL contracted EPRI Bohai to undertake a Petroleum Resources Assessment of Block D and on 16 April 2007, announced that the block could contain up to 226.88 MMbbl (P50) in the oil case or 496.2 Bcf (P50) in the gas case. The assessment also included a comprehensive risk analysis with respect to the oil source, reservoir, migration and preservation and concluded that an exploration drilling programme was required to firm up the reserves.
The authorities have reportedly granted block D, offshore to (Chinese) Cambodian Resource Energy Development Co, the agreement signed in Dec '19. The 5,300-sq km unit (outline yet n/a) lies west of KrisEnergy's block A in shallow waters, previously run by Mirach Energy.