Noble Energy joins West African off-shore oil search

New York, United States — ESI-AFRICA.COM — 09 June 2011 – Noble Energy Incorporated “’ the world’s second-largest offshore rig contractor “’ has revealed that it has joined an international group looking for oil and natural gas off the coast of West Africa.

Reuters reports from here that the group “’ which also includes Ophir AGC Profond and Rocksource AGC Prodond AS “’ will first drill in the Kora prospect, about 105km off the Senegal and Guinea-Bissau coasts. It will be drilling in about 2,600m of water.

The Kora prospect is estimated to have 450 million barrels of oil equivalent, Noble said.

Offshore West Africa has been one of the hottest areas for oil and natural gas exploration in recent years. Energy companies are spending heavily to tap reservoirs there.

According to the company, the chance of success in the Kora prospect is 20%.