Oman has invited local and international companies to bid for seven oil blocks, which include the majority 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.

The offshore blocks represent all offshore areas from Oman’s coastal border with the UAE down to the south of Duqm in Al-Wusta governorate.

Interested companies have until 31 January to submit bids for the blocks, said Saleh Ali al-Anboori, director-general of petroleum investments at the Oil & Gas Ministry, according to Oman Daily Observer.

The ministry has awarded two concessions over recent months, with UK-based Frontier Resources Oman winning block 38 and Hungary’s MOL awarded block 66, both located onshore in the Dhofar region of southern Oman.