ALGERIA

ENI Extends Exploration Agreement

Italy's ENI group has extended the duration of its joint- venture exploration agreement with Sonatrach of Algeria which covers 9,100 sq. kms. in two blocks in the eastern Erg region, between the Hassi Messaoud oil field and the Tunisian frontier. Late last year a promising discovery, testing 5,000 b/d of 40° API crude, was announced in the area (MEES, 12 January), and ENI is believed to have sought an extension of the 1980 agreement (MEES,...