Austria’s OMV and US-based Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) have signed a four-year deal to evaluate several undeveloped oil and gas fields in the North West Offshore area of Abu Dhabi.

The contract was signed with state-owned oil and gas producer Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) to study offshore fields including the Hail and Ghasha areas.

The deal covers a seismic, drilling and engineering work programmes for exploration, appraisal and potential field developments. OMV and Oxy will also contribute with seconded personnel and technical expertise for the evaluation activities.

OMV is already appraising sour gas reservoirs at Abu Dhabi’s onshore Shuwaihat field. Oxy is the Adnoc’s joint venture partners in Al-Hosn Gas – the operator of the onshore Shah sour gas asset.

Abu Dhabi is already planning to develop sour gas reservoirs at the Hail and Ghasha fields.