Anadarko Petroleum signs agreement to explore large block offshore Qatar

Ray Tyson

Petroleum News Houston correspondent

Houston-based Anadarko Petroleum has signed an oil and gas exploration and production sharing agreement with Qatar Petroleum for Block 4 offshore Qatar, Anadarko said May 18.

The 3,132 square-kilometer contract area is some 40 kilometers from the northern coast of Qatar and lies adjacent to the Anadarko-operated Al Rayyan oil field on Block 12.

The terms of this agreement call for an initial five-year exploration phase during which Anadarko, in partnership with Qatar Petroleum, will undertake a work program comprising technical studies, seismic reprocessing, acquisition of 2-D and 3-D seismic data and exploratory drilling. Anadarko holds a 100 percent interest in the block.

“The block is situated within some of the world’s most prolific petroleum systems, and has remained relatively unexplored for the last 30 years,” said Jim Emme, Anadarko’s vice president of exploration and business development.

Anadarko acquired its position in Qatar through the purchase of Gulfstream Resources in 2001. In 2002, with the purchase of BP’s interests in Blocks 12 and 13 in Qatar, Anadarko increased its working interest from 65 percent to 92.5 percent and became the operator.

Anadarko also holds a 49 percent interest in Block 11, operated by Wintershall. With the addition of Block 4, Anadarko will hold interest in over 1.5 million gross acres in Qatar.