Adnoc CEO Sultan al-Jaber says that the firm has received an “overwhelming response” to the bid round it launched in April (MEES, 13 April). The bid round closes this month and Mr Jaber says it has “commitments from 39 companies from all over the world.” He expects results to be announced before the end of the year for the six blocks on offer – four onshore and two offshore.

Asked at the Oil & Money conference in London on 10 October about how prospective the acreage is, he responded that “we would not be offering blocks without enough indications that the resources are there…we are very confident [of substantial finds].” Reserves are expected to be of both oil and gas. (CONTINUED - 172 WORDS)