News Portugal's Petrogal eyes expansion amid continuing privatization

Oct. 16, 1995
Portugal's recently privatized state oil company Petrogal is about to embark on a major expansion worldwide. That comes against the backdrop of major change in Portugal's energy sector and the rocky road to Petrogal's partial privatization. Despite the controversy, there remain opportunities for foreign companies investing in Portugal's energy sector.

Further details have emerged on acreage offered in the first licensing round in the Yamal-Nenets region of western Siberia.

Jebco Seismic Ltd., which is promoting the bidding round, last summer listed seven delineated fields and three exploration blocks to be offered (OGJ, Aug. 14, p. 17).

The blocks on offer are said to have proved and probable reserves amounting to more than 830 million metric tons of oil, 30 million metric tons of condensate, and 270 billion cu m of gas.

Wayne Turner, chairman and managing director of Jebco Holdings Ltd., told Oil & Gas Journal much interest is centered on three fields: Taz, East Taz, and Beregovy.

Taz is the plum discovery, with proved and probable reserves estimated at 541.5 million metric tons of oil, 12.7 million metric tons of condensate, and 197.7 billion cu m of gas. Turner said any company can bid to develop Taz, although state firm Gazprom has the right to back into the whole field, taking a 50% license interest.

So far, 46 exploration and appraisal wells have been drilled in the Taz field area. There has been no commercial production.

Beregovy field holds estimated proved and probable reserves amounting to 82.3 million metric tons of oil and 7.3 million metric tons of condensate. Forty-two wells have been drilled. Again, there has been no production.

Regional geological company Urengoyneftegazgeologiya has licenses to produce from two condensate zones in the field. Gazprom has a license to produce the gas layer above these.

Large oil zones below the Beregovy condensate zones and smaller shallow oil reservoirs are open for bidding.

East Taz fields has estimated proved and probable reserves of 46.1 million metric tons of oil, 10.8 million metric tons of condensate, and 65.3 billion cu m of gas. Seventeen delineation wells have been drilled.

Bidders are required to submit a list of fields in which they wish to participate and buy data packages by Nov. 15. Field development proposals are required by Mar. 1, 1996.

Development plans will be studied from Mar. 1 to Apr. 1, 1996, after which Yamal-Nenets authorities will call a meeting of participants to witness opening of the bid envelopes containing details of financial proposals. License awards will follow.