Sri Lanka has signed agreements with Total and Equinor to help it become an oil and gas producing nation.
According to several media reports, including Colombo Page, Ceylon Today, and Reuters, the country’s government on Tuesday signed a two-year offshore exploration deal with France’s Total and Norway’s Equinor.
The two companies would explore for oil and gas in deepwater blocks JS5 and JS6 in the Ceylon Basin off the country’s eastern coast.
Total will be the operator, and Equinor will get 30 percent interest. Equinor has confirmed the signing to Offshore Energy Today via email.
An Equinor spokesperson said: “Equinor is pleased to have joined the partnership with Total in relation to this joint study agreement. We look forward to collaborate with the operator and the Sri Lankan government to better understand the geological potential in this area.
“It is too early to comment on the geological potential of oil and gas offshore Sri Lanka, but this joint study agreement will help increase our knowledge of the geological potential,” the spokesperson said.
According to available info, Total in 2016 signed an agreement to proceed with surveys on the offshore JS5 and JS-6 Blocks off the east coast, but it is unclear what progress, if any, has been made so far.
Offshore Energy Today has reached out to Total and the Sri Lanka government seeking more info on the deal and on the expected work program. We will update the article if we receive any response.
A Total spokesperson said: “Total has indeed teamed up with Equinor for further exploration on JS-5 and JS-6 areas off Sri Lanka. We have no more comment to make as of now.”
Meanwhile, Ceylon Today has cited Petroleum Resource Development Secretariat Director General Vajira Dassanayake, who said that the two firms might carry out a 3d seismic survey, and drill some wells next year.
Offshore Energy Today Staff
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