Panoro Energy ASA has confirmed the award of Block EG-01as announced by the Company on 20 February 2023 and the award has been ratified by the Government of Equatorial Guinea.  Panoro has been awarded a 56 percent operated interest in Block EG-01 alongside partners Kosmos Energy (24 percent) and GEPetrol (20 percent).

In the vein, The company has said that all the necessary approvals have been received allowing for the completion of Panoro’s farm-in to the Kosmos Energy operated Block S offshore Equatorial Guinea which was announced on 20 October 2022. Panoro has acquired a 6 percent participating interest in Block S from each of Kosmos Energy and Trident Energy to hold a 12 percent non-operated participating interest.

Panoro’s partners at Block S are Kosmos Energy (34 percent, operator), Trident Energy (34 percent) and GEPetrol (20 percent). One exploration well is planned on Block S during 2024 to test an Albian play in the Akeng Deep prospect. Gross mean unrisked prospective resources are estimated to be around 180 million barrels and the prospect lies within tie-back distance to the Sendje-Ceiba FPSO. 

 “We greatly appreciate the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons support in concluding both the award of Block EG-01 and farm-in to Block S which together represent a complementary expansion of our portfolio offshore Equatorial Guinea. The two blocks are in the immediate vicinity of our producing Ceiba Field and Okume Complex which accounted for around 59 percent of group production in 2022 and where we are also partnered with Kosmos Energy, Trident Energy and GEPetrol.  In line with our infrastructure led exploration strategy, Panoro will have modest financial exposure to a large inventory of prospects and leads within tie back distance of existing production facilities offering scope to leverage synergies in the event of a commercial discovery. We look forward to working with our aligned partners and stakeholders to unlock the full potential of our enlarged asset base in Equatorial Guinea,” John Hamilton, CEO of Panoro, commented.   

Block EG-01

Block EG-01 is located in water depths ranging from 30 metres to 500 metres, mainly shallow, and is covered by high quality 3D seismic. The partners have been awarded block EG-01 for an initial period of three years during which they will conduct subsurface studies based on existing seismic data to further define and evaluate the prospectivity of the block. Following this, the partners will have the option to enter into a further two-year period, during which they will undertake to drill one exploration well.

Past exploration activities on Block EG-01 have tested and proven the key geological elements for successful exploration. These findings have led to the identification of an extensive prospect inventory within tie-back distance to the Ceiba Field and Okume Complex facilities. Since 2003, three exploration wells have been drilled on the block, with two encountering thin oil and gas pay and one encountering oil shows. The main hydrocarbon plays are Eocene sands and Upper Cretaceous turbidites analogous to the Block G plays where over one billion barrels STOIIP has been discovered. Moreover, there is potential for deeper Albian targets, similar to the Block S prospect, which is scheduled for drilling in 2024.

Block S

Block S covers a surface area of 1,245 km² with water depths ranging from 450 metres to 1,500 metres and is covered by high quality 3D seismic. The block surrounds the producing Ceiba Field and is adjacent to the producing Okume Complex, which is operated by Trident Energy and where Panoro holds a 14.25 percent non operated participating interest.

Past exploration activities on Block S have tested and proven the necessary geological play elements which has led to an extensive prospect inventory being identified within tie-back distance to the Ceiba Field and Okume Complex facilities.