technical studies on the concessions.

Chevron Corporation of the US and Malaysia's Petronas were awarded exploration rights over blocks 4-6, close to the Hawar Islands, in late 2002 but later relinquished the acreage having failed to make significant discoveries. Thailand's PTTEP is carrying out a geological and geophysical assessment of blocks 1 and 2, to the northwest of the main island. Bapco is also investing $200 million to drill nine-10 onshore gas wells (MEED 18:8:06).