Gas exploration: British firm Chariot wins a new license for the Rissana offshore zone
The Rissana offshore zone, located in the immediate vicinity of that of Lixus, off Larache, where large gas reserves were discovered last January, has been awarded to the British company Chariot.
The Africa focused transitional energy company Chariot announced this Monday February 28 that it has been formally awarded the Rissana Offshore Licence for gas exploration.
Under the agreement signed by Pierre Raillard, director of Chariot Maroc, and Amina Benkhadra, director general of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, 75% interest and operatorship of the Rissana licence are awarded to a wholly owned subsidiary
of Chariot Limited in partnership with the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) which will hold a 25% interest.
According to a press release from the British firm listed on the London Stock Exchange, the Rissana Offshore license covers an area of 8,489 km2, and surrounds the Lixus offshore area off Larache, whose license is also held by the British firm, and where significant gas reserves were discovered last January, following successful drilling operations (Anchois-2 well).
“The minimum initial license commitment is the acquisition of a 2D seismic survey, which will help assess the extent and potential of these gas deposits across Rissana,” the statement said.
“We are pleased to formally award Chariot the Rissana license, offshore Morocco. ONHYM and Chariot recently conducted a highly successful drilling campaign in Morocco and we hope that we will be able to have similar success on Rissana,” Amina Benkhadra was quoted in the press release as saying.
“As we have demonstrated with our recent successful drilling campaign at Anchois, this is a highly prospective basin and, along with the Lixus Offshore Licence, the award of Rissana ensures that we have captured the exploration upsides in this exciting play,” said Adonis Pouroulis, CEO of Chariot.
“In parallel with the development plans on the Anchois gas field, we aim to maximize value from the exploration upsides in what we believe is a low risk and high value opportunity,” he said.
