Oman Awards Upstream Contract to Total, PTTEP
Oman has awarded a contract to France's Total and Thailand's PTTEP to explore and develop non-associated gas resources, its oil and gas ministry said on social media on February 19.
The exploration and production agreement that was signed covers Block 12, a 9,546-km2 area in central Oman. Total will operate the block with an 80% stake, while PTTEP takes 20%.
The latest award comes after Oman signed an agreement in July last year giving Italy's Eni and UK BP exploration rights to Block 77. In October it handed a contract to Anglo-Dutch Shell for rights to Block 55.
The sultanate produced around 34.5bn m3 of gas last year, and output is expected to rise in the coming years thanks to several major projects including Mabrouk, operated by Total and Shell, and Khazzan, being developed by BP. Gas may be liquefied in Oman for export or used domestically.