BP, Kosmos Secure Two Sao Tome Blocks
US independent Kosmos Energy and BP have secured exploration rights for the West African nation of Sao Tomé and Principe’s offshore blocks 10 and 13, state upstream regulator ANP announced January 23.
It follows a restricted tender for the two blocks launched by the government October 3, 2017 after the UK-US consortium had expressed interest in them. ANP explained in October that its tender would guarantee transparency how the blocks were awarded, as the law requires. ANP head Orlando Pontes said that a consortium of Portugal’s Galp Energia and French major Total had also participated in the tender.
Talks with BP and Kosmos will begin in coming days on firming up a production sharing contract, said the national petroleum agency (ANP).
The two firms already have in the region. Texas-based Kosmos has already operated Sao Tomé blocks 5, 11 and 12 for three years and has an interest in block 6; last September it acquired about 16,000 km2 of 3D seismic data there, partnered by Galp. Kosmos is also present in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea. Kosmos and BP were recently also jointly awarded five new exploration blocks offshore Côte d’Ivoire.
Offshore Senegal/Mauritania, Kosmos and BP jointly hold significant offshore gas interests and are looking to take a final investment decision this year on a joint floating LNG project targeting start-up in 2021.