Algerian state oil and gas giant Sonatrach says it made 18 “hydrocarbon discoveries” during the first eight months of 2014, including 13 during the first six months.

Of these 13, seven were largely oil and six gas. The bulk of finds were in the Berkine and Illizi basins in the country’s east “around satellite fields of Hassi Messaoud and Hassi R’Mel,” Sonatrach says, naming the country’s largest oil and gas fields. Finds were also made in the Gourada basin in the southwest of the country. (CONTINUED - 390 WORDS)