Bejaia, Oran chosen as offshore oil exploration areas

The national hydrocarbon group SONATRACH intends to carry out its first offshore drillings in the coastal provinces of Oran (432-km west of Algiers) and Bejaia (265-km east of Algiers), chosen as offshore exploration areas after the seismic surveys on their territorial waters, a source from the group told APS.
These two provinces have been chosen for the offshore exploration after the interpretation of the 2D seismic data of Algeria's 1,200 km-long coasts, the source said.
At the present stage of prospection, SONATRACH can not confirm the existence of hydrocarbon potential as long as the 3d seismic data interpretation carried out by the oil group in collaboration with the French CGG (Compagnie Générale de Géophysique) has not been completed.
SONATRACH signed in late 2013 a four-month agreement with CGG to conduct a 3D seismic survey on the Algerian coasts.
The two groups have finished collecting the 3D seismic data and are about to complete their interpretation.
SONATRACH intends to carry out the first drilling alone or in partnership but the decision will be made by the Ministry of Energy, the source added.