Eni this week expanded in Morocco, taking a 75% operator’s stake in the 23,900km² Tarfaya Offshore Shallow permits off the south of the country. State firm Onhym retains 25%. Water depths are zero to 1,000ms (the deeper portion is more prospective making ‘shallow’ something of a misnomer).

This marks a further major vote of confidence in the global deepwater in general and North Africa’s ‘Atlantic Margin’ in particular. ExxonMobil signed up for three virgin Mauritania deepwater blocks earlier this month (MEES, 8 December). (CONTINUED - 390 WORDS)