On 20 January 2020, BP and the National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) signed a preliminary agreement aimed at BP and the Block 18 group acquiring exploration rights for Block 18/15. The agreement defines the process and general terms for a Risk Service Contract (RSC).   According to President of the Board of Directors of ANPG, Paulino JerÃ³nimo the agreement allows for an exploration contract with BP atop an area that has significant potential and where there are existing undeveloped oil fields.   President of BP Angola, Stephen Willis mentioned that BP believes the Cretaceous formations within the area present good exploration opportunities and potential developments and that the Greater Plutonium Development presents opportunities for subsea tie backs. Â   The 4,600 sq km block straddles the Congo Fan, Kwanza Basin and Lower Congo basin. To date all the discoveries within Block 18 are Tertiary (Miocene or Oligocene) and located within the Congo Fan. Only one well has been drilled within the Kwanza Basin portion of the Block: in 2014 Petrobras drilled the Mercurio 1 well targeting Albian aged carbonates. The well was plugged and abandoned with oil shows. Â   Once the RSC is signed that partnership is expected to be: BP operator with a 46% interest, Sonangol Sinopec International Ltd a 37.72% stake and Sonangol holding the remaining 16.28% stake.
A preliminary agreement was signed with ANPG for BP (op), Sonangol Sinopec Intl + Sonangol to secure rights to block 18/15. This agreement defines general terms for a risk service contract. The 4600kmÂ² block straddles the Congo Fan, Kwanza + Lower Congo basins.