BP Nears FID at Platina Field Offshore Angola
Angola’s Sonangol and British supermajor BP on Monday signed an agreement to progress to final investment decision (FID) for the development of the Platina field in the BP-operated deepwater Block 18, offshore Angola.Platina would be BP’s first new operated development in Angola since the PSVM project in Block 31 began production in 2013. It would be the second phase of development in Block 18…
Cobalt Threatens Arbitration over Angolan Assets
U.S. oil firm Cobalt said it would seek arbitration if Angola's state-run Sonangol failed to extend licence deadlines on two deepwater blocks, a move the U.S. company said was needed to help it sell the assets. Cobalt said its efforts to find a buyer for its 40 percent stakes in Blocks 20 and 21 offshore Angola were "negatively impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the extension". Cobalt has been trying to sell the blocks for several years.
Total's Major African Projects Safe from Oil Collapse Cuts
Total's major oil and gas projects in Africa will not be stopped by the sudden fall in crude oil prices and will help the French company meet its long-term production targets, a top executive said on Tuesday. Total has bet on a string of African projects such as Egina in Nigeria, Kaombo in Angola and Moho in the Republic of Congo to help it boost production to a target of 2.8 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2017.
SBM Offshore Shares Jump as Bribery Case Settled
SBM Offshore NV has settled a bribery case with Dutch prosecutors for $240 million, including a $40,000 fine, sending shares in the Dutch oil platform leasing firm up more than 20 percent on Wednesday. The settlement, which was in line with provisions already taken, ends a two-and-a-half year inquiry into improper payments to government officials in Angola, Brazil and Equatorial Guinea by sales agents between 2007 and 2011.
