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Total E and P South Africa has become the third company to have an application for an oil and gas exploration rights off the south and east coast of South Africa approved by the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA).
The company plans to explore for oil and gas reserves in the deep off-shore area roughly between Cape Argulhas and Cape St Francis.
The exploration activities will include a 2D seismic survey, drop coring and sonar bathymetry over an area of approximately 76 060 square kilometres in water depths ranging from 200 metres to over 4 000 metres.
New Age (African Global Energy) has been granted rights over a 12 000 square kilometres block around Algoa Bay and will start a seismic survey early next year, while Impact Oil and Gas has had two applications accepted.
The one application is for a 7 700 square kilometre area off Algoa Bay and the other for a 38 136 square kilometre block off the East London and Transkei coastline which, it states, has seen “little exploration activity.
Total E and P says that while the date at which the survey will start will depend on when the permit is issued, it anticipates that it will get underway during the last quarter of next year and take about two to three months to complete.
It says that based on the results of the 2D seismic survey, follow up core drill sampling and sonar bathymetry will be carried out.
(Source: Metro Minute - to subscribe mail metminutes@iafrica.com)
