South Africa: Africa Energy buys into Total’s offshore block

Africa Energy Corp. will buy 4.9% interest in the Exploration Right for Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa from Total.

The block 11B/12B is located in the Outeniqua Basin approximately 175 kilometers off the southern coast of South Africa. It covers an area of 19,000 square kilometers with water depths ranging from 200 to 2,000 meters.

Total E&P South Africa BV (“Total”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Total SA, is the operator and has a 50% interest in Block 11B/12B. CNR International (South Africa) Limited (“CNRI”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian Natural Resources Limited, owns the remaining 50%.

Africa Energy holds 49% of the shares in a new special purpose vehicle, Main Street 1549 Proprietary Limited, which has entered into farmout agreements with Total and CNRI separately to acquire 5% from each for an aggregate 10% participating interest in Block 11B/12B (4.9% net to Africa Energy).

Garrett Soden, Africa Energy’s President and CEO, commented, “We are excited to partner with Total and CNRI on Block 11B/12B. This is a unique opportunity for a company of our size to work with majors in what we believe to be the most prospective geology offshore the African continent. Our technical team knows the area well from their previous exploratory work off the southern coast, and we look forward to the proposed exploration well on Block 11B/12B.”

Africa Energy paid a deposit of US$0.49 million at signature and will pay an additional US$6.86 million at closing. The company has agreed to fund a portion of Total’s and CNRI’s costs for the proposed exploration well to a maximum of US$7.55 million, plus certain contingent payments due at various milestones associated with commercialization of hydrocarbons from Block 11B/12B. The closing, carry and contingent payments will be funded from cash on hand and/or from third party sources.

Drilling in 2018

As previously reported, Total in June awarded a drilling contract to Odfjell Drilling  for th Deepsea Stavanger semi-submersible drilling rig, for operation in in South Africa.

The contract is for one well plus one optional well to be drilled by the 6th generation semi-submersible rig offshore South Africa.

According to Odfjell Drilling, the contract is set to start between June 2018 and April 2019.

The contract value including compensation for mobilization/demobilization period is estimated up to $55 million. Odfjell expects the drilling of the firm well to take 60-80 days.

Offshore Energy Today Staff