The companies operating oil and gas exploration Blocks 3 and 4 in southeast Oman have decided to carry out work in the last three months of 2009.

Sweden’s Tethys Oil and Consolidated Contractors Energy Development Oman, a subsidiary of Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), agreed on the work in August. Each company holds a 50 per cent interest in the blocks.

CCC is the operator of the two concessions and will therefore carry out the programme of work. This includes testing of the Barik sandstone in Block 3 and drilling in sections of Block 4.

CCC will also conduct a seismic mapping study of the Saiwan East structure which is part of the Block 4 concession.

The decision to carry out a fresh appraisal of the companies’ assets follows the testing of a well in Block 3 which produced 745 barrels a day (b/d) of oil and indications that nearby structures could also contain oil.

Tethys is the operator of a second exploration and production concession in the northeast, Block 15.  

According to a source at the company, executives from Tethys, which holds a 40 per cent stake in this concession, and Denmark’s Odin Energi, which holds the remainder, will meet in early October to discuss details of another exploration campaign due to begin in early 2010.