African Petroleum Asserts Rights

Australia-listed explorer African Petroleum (AP) said October 16 that it is formally beginning arbitration proceedings against the Gambian government to protect its offshore interests. Separately, it also is asserting its rights to offshore Senegalese exploration blocks since allocated to Total.

The West Africa region from Mauritania southwards has become an exploration hotspot in the wake of multiple gas and oil finds by Kosmos Energy and Cairn Energy.

AP, which stated September 4 that it was in the process of commencing arbitration proceedings in order to protect its 100% interests in the A1 and A4 offshore licences in The Gambia, said it "remains open to engaging in constructive dialogue with the Gambian authorities with a view to establishing a satisfactory solution that is in the interests of all parties."

In Senegal, where AP has a 90% interest in the Senegal Offshore Sud Profond (SOSP) and Rufisque Offshore Profond (ROP) blocks, it said it has lodged an application to enter into the second renewal phase of SOSP, most likely for 30 months, while "continuing to reserve its rights on ROP" – a licence that French major Total said May 2 was awarded to it by the Senegalese government.

Regarding its interests offshore Sierra Leone, AP said it is "in advanced negotiations with the Sierra Leonean authorities to formalise documentation in order to enter into the next phases of the SL-04 and SL-4A-10 licences and to modify the work programmes for the phases" in which it has a 100% interest. The 3km to 3.6km deep water depth had deterred investors during 2014-16 but now renewed interest was being expressed in the acreage, AP said.

Offshore Cote d’Ivoire, AP said it plans to withdraw from licence CI-509 and said that a well sunk by operator Ophir Energy on CI-513 had been dry.

Mark Smedley