Via The Energy Year, a report on Liberty Petroleum, an ambitious privately-owned US player, efforts to gain entry into one of Africa’s last undrilled frontier zones by signing three production sharing agreements (PSAs) covering promising blocks offshore Somalia:
Liberty Petroleum has signed PSAs for three deepwater exploration blocks off Somalia, Upstream Online reported on Friday.
Liberty affiliate Petro Quest Africa will conduct exploration drilling in blocks 131, 190 and 206.
The deal was signed by Somali Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources Abdirizak Omar Mohamed and Liberty Petroleum CEO Lane Franks.
“We are aware of the responsibility that now lies on our shoulders to explore and hopefully develop the petroleum resources within these blocks in a manner that delivers maximum benefit to the people of Somalia,” Franks was quoted as saying.
Liberty Petroleum specialises in acquiring high-impact offshore exploration licences worldwide, according to its website. Its chief focus has been Australia, where it has interests in 10 licences, operating two.
Somalia has seen substantial drilling onshore, but its offshore has hosted only two wells, both in shallow waters.