Oman’s Oil and Gas Ministryis planning to award seven oil blocks in the sultanate in 2013. The submission deadline for bids from interested exploration and production companies has been set for April 2013. Four of the blocks are located onshore with the remainder offshore.

MEED reported in November that Oman has invited local and international companies to bid for seven oil blocks, which include most of the sultanate’s offshore acreage in the Arabian Sea.

According to local media citing government sources, tenders have been released for three deep offshore blocks 18, 41 and 59 and onshore blocks 43A, 48, 56 and 57.