Oman set to launch onshore bid round

Oman will launch an onshore licensing round on Wednesday, offering four blocks to bidders.

The licensing round, held by the Omani Ministry of Oil & Gas, will run until December 31 and cover blocks 43B, 47, 51 and 65. The assets hold both conventional and unconventional resource potential.

The assets are among 10 open blocks the ministry intends to offer for investment in the coming years.

Block 43B, covering 11,967 square kilometres, is situated in an unexplored coastal region. It holds conventional gas and may hold oil.

Block 47 covers 8,542 square kilometres and its resources are dominated by tight gas.

Block 51, spanning 10,134 square kilometres, holds both conventional oil and gas and tight gas.

Block 65 is considered prospective due to the presence of oilfields in adjacent blocks and spans 1,230 square kilometres. The block includes conventional resources as well as unconventional resources found in the Natih E play.

Blocks 51 and 65 are also considered prospective as they have undergone changes to configuration and companies previously active in the blocks have not had complete pictures of their potential.