During a 2018 Exploration Bid Round award ceremony attended by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi on 13 January 2019, Eni SpA was awarded Exploration Concession Agreements for all three of the onshore blocks (Areas A, B and C) originally offered. Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) on behalf of the Petroleum Council of the Emirate of Sharjah (SPC) had launched the bid round on 25 June 2018. Eni will operate Area A and C with a 75% working interest, while it will partner SNOC in the exploration of Block B where an initial exploratory well was spudded in late December 2018. Following the ceremony, Claudio Descalzi, Eni CEO stated that âThese agreements mark for Eni another major step towards an organic growth in the UAE. Today's awards are a further confirmation of our willingness to root our presence in the Middle East by creating long-term strategic partnershipsâ.  SNOC opened a data room to pre-qualified companies on 4 July 2018 and bids had been due for submission on 9 December 2018, with any contracts subsequently awarded becoming effective on 1 January 2019. SNOC will retain a 25% government interest in blocks A and C, but it had been seeking a 50% strategic partner with which to explore Block B, in which it has mapped an undrilled deep gas play below the depleted Sajaa gas-condensate field in addition to other prospects closer to its borders. Â     SNOC had previously reported that it completed a new 483 sq km 3D onshore survey during February 2017, however it transpires that up to 851 sq km of ânewâ 3D and 200 sq km of 2013 vintage 3D data were made available for review during the license round. Of note is that SNOCâs initial interpretation of the newly acquired seismic has lead it to believe that âmostâ historical wells were either drilled off structure or failed to reach their primary Lower Cretaceous, Thamama Group carbonate objectives.      The three onshore blocks cover an area of 1,885 sq km, they include developed hydrocarbon discoveries, along with a range of undrilled leads, prospects and untested plays.              CONCESSION AREA         AREA (sq km)         SNOC %         PARTNER(S) %         OPERATOR         SNOC CARRY         BIDDING PARAMETERS             Concession A         437Â Â Â Â Â  Â    (includes Sajaa, Moveid & Kahaif fields)         25%         75%         Farmee         Carry on E&A (reimbursment during development phase)         Bid Work Programme (Minimum one firm well during first   exploration period)             Concession B         264         50%         50%         SNOC         No carry. SNOC will pay its share of costs as per equity         Bid bonus.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â    Partner with SNOC on first exploration well (currently in planning   phase)             Concession C         1184         25%         75%         Farmee         Carry on E&A (reimbursement during development phase)         Bid Work Programme (Minimum 600 sq km 3D seismic during first   exploration period)             Â          Â          Â          Â          Â          Â          Â© 2019 IHS   Markit          A      WesternGeco land crew had initiated SNOCâs latest onshore 3D seismic      survey in late October 2016. It was utilising Schlumbergerâs UniQ land      seismic acquisition platform technology to manage the long offsets      required to image the complex overthrust geology in the area, and to help      identify unconventional resource potential along with the existence of      deep oil and gas objectives within the emirate.   In      2016, Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, the deputy chairman of SPC and      president of SNOC had unveiled plans to import liquefied natural gas (LNG)      to "add to the supply of gas in Sharjah and Northern Emirates to meet      the growing demand for energyâ. The new survey was intended to support the      forthcoming exploration drilling campaign, which is being devised to help      meet those growing energy requirements through the discovery of additional      domestic resources. Seismic data processing was completed during 1H 2017      in Schlumbergerâs Abu Dhabi processing center using reverse time migration      to image the complex geology.  The      2016-2017 3D survey campaign was designed to complement a 3D survey conducted      onshore Sharjah during 2011-13.   An      Emiri decree promulgated in February 2014 formally merged the Sharjah      Liquefaction Gas Company (Shalco) and Sharjah Oil Company (SOC) into the      newly established SNOC. It is owned by the government, but it operates      autonomously on a commercial basis and is headquartered in Sharjah City.  The      Sharjah Petroleum Council was created in 1999 through a decree issued by      Shaikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. The council was charged with      oversight of the petroleum sector within the emirate, including upstream      and downstream planning policy, legislation and investment. The council      replaced the existing Department of Petroleum and Minerals which had been      undertaking these roles since 1972. The chairman of the Department of      Petroleum and Minerals, Shaikh Ahmad bin Sultan Al Qasimi was appointed      chair of the new council.
UAE, not found