30 new oil and gas wells for Morocco

Part of a planned exploration and drilling production extension, Morocco will drill 30 oil and gas wells in 2014, its energy minister said recently.

In the last few years, the North African country has awarded dozens of permits to oil companies. Morocco’s relative stability compared with other North African countries and increasing indications of potential offshore and onshore reserves means its becoming more important to oil and gas operators.

"We are stepping up our searches. The more we drill, the more we get closer to the discoveries," Energy and Mines Minister Abdelkader Amara told the press recently.

"Since Moroccan independence (in 1956), we [have] drilled only 300 wells. And in 2014 alone we are planning 30 wells."

Oil and gas companies investing in Morocco

Oil and gas giants such as Chevron, Gulfsands Petroleum, Cairn Energy and BP have all invested in Morocco.

As the latest major to enter Morocco, BP announced a deal with Kosmos Energy earlier, which will see the company take a share in three offshore blocks. Drilling will begin later this year.

Following Chevron’s announcement in January that it had taken up three offshore blocks, Cairn Energy has confirmed the commencement of drilling at a second offshore well.  

Previously overlooked

New technological innovations have helped fuel Morocco’s energy growth, as new oil and gas fields over the past decade have been discovered in regions that were formerly overlooked.

"We are trying to market the Moroccan destination for oil exploration and until now we have succeeded to attract investments for the most important regions," Amara said.

Edited from various sources by Cecilia Rehn

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/30042014/30_new_oil_and_gas_wells_for_morocco/