KUALA LUMPUR: Sapura Energy Bhd and its two joint venture (JV) partners had been awarded Block 30 in Sureste Basin, a proven and prolific hydrocarbon province in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sapura Energy said Block 30, which is in shallow waters of about 70 metres, directly to the south west of Premier's world-class Zama discovery and to the north of the Amoca oil field, was the most contested block in the bid.
Sapura Exploration and Production Sdn Bhd and partners DEA Deutsche Erdoel Mexico (DEA) and Premier Oil Plc outbid six other bidders for the block. Sapura E&P and Premier hold 30% each in the JV while DEA controls 40%.
“The consortium has identified material leads and prospects on Block 30 in the tertiary clastic plays, typical of the Sureste Basin and in which Premier made the world-class Zama discovery in July 2017.
“The main prospect exhibits DHIs (direct hydrocarbon indicators) on the existing 3D seismic across the southern edge of Block 30, significantly de-risking a potentially material oil play there. These anomalies are similar to those seen at the Zama and Amoca oil fields,” it said.
The JV's plan is to acquire a 3D seismic in 2019 ahead of firming up drilling locations in 2020.
Sapura Energy president and group chief executive officera Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Shahril Shamsuddin: “This is a formidable partnership of like - minded companies with significant world wide experience, which augurs well for future success in Mexico.”
Shahril said Sapura Exploration and Production had been operating in Mexico since late 2012 and has worked closely with PEMEX on a number of offshore projects.
“The Sureste Basin is not unknown territory, the shallow water operating conditions are similar to Malaysia and our team is on familiar ground,” said Shahril.
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