Jordan’s Natural Resources Authority (NRA) and Shell Jordan on 8 December signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which Shell will carry out a survey of the Azraq and Sirhan exploration blocks in the kingdom. According to NRA’s Director General, Musa al-Zuyud, Shell will evaluate the conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon prospectivity of the two blocks by consulting previous studies, data gathering and analysis of natural resources.

The MOU, which was approved in November, covers an area of more than 20,000 sq km and will initially last for a period of nine months, and can be extended for an additional three months. Dr Zuyud added that upon completion of the survey, all data, studies and findings will be communicated to the NRA. The two parties may enter into commercial negotiations for future exploration and development, after completion of the survey. (CONTINUED - 276 WORDS)