Genel decides risk is worth it searching for oil in Somaliland

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Genel decides risk is worth it searching for oil in Somaliland

 

Tony Hayward, chief executive of Genel Energy, is sanguine about the risk

Finding oil could be the least of Genel Energy's problems Next year Genel will drill its first wells in Somaliland, the breakaway East African territory that declared independencefrom Somalia more than 20 years ago after a bloody civil war The prize could be huge If the explorer fronted by Tony Hayward finds as much of the black stuff as it expects to, it may find itself in the middle of several territorial disputes in one of the world's most volatile regions

 

Finding oil could be the least of Genel Energy’s problems. If the explorer fronted by Tony Hayward finds as much of the black stuff as it expects to, it may find itself in the middle of several territorial disputes in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

 

Next year Genel will drill its first wells in Somaliland, the breakaway East African territory that declaredindependence from Somalia more than 20 years ago after a bloody civil war.

 

The prize could be huge. At 40,000 sq km, its acreage in the nation is bigger than the whole of the Kurdishregion.

 

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/naturalresources/article3821949.ece

[GAROODI]

 

 

Percentages: if its good then why not .... Seeps of oil across SOMALILAND even the British wrote about it.

[Homunculus]

What is the use putting a link when it's behind a paywall.Good luck, aren't they drilling in the same basin as the one in Puntland (Nugal basin)?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

No Genel is only in Somaliland, not in Somalia

[Tallaabo]

Homunculus;970174 wrote:

What is the use putting a link when it's behind a paywall.Good luck, aren't they drilling in the same basin as the one in Puntland (Nugal basin)?

Yeah it so annoying:eek:

[Homunculus]

 

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ Yeah but Somalia's blocks were being drilled by range resources not genel, the 2 have nothing to do with each other.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

These are the wells being drilled oodweyne block and Caynabo block next Year 2014

 

[Homunculus]

Why do Somali's award blocks the size of countries? Those blocks are huge, and the Genel block intersects with the one in puntland, I don't see anything good coming from it at least initially. Somaliland better start with the oodweyne block.

[Tallaabo]

Homunculus;970184 wrote:

Why do Somali's award blocks the size of countries? Those blocks are huge, and the Genel block intersects with the one in puntland, I don't see anything good coming from it at least initially. Somaliland better start with the oodweyne block.

Yes it makes a lot of sense to start with the Oodwayne block and the other safe area of the country until Sool is stabalised.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Tallaabo the other block is caynabo its very safe since when was caynabo not safe?

 

They are not drilling in Buhoodle or eastern sool, mala geogriphiga kugu yara adag.

[GAROODI]

Xaaji Xunjuf;970193 wrote:

Tallaabo the other block is caynabo its very safe since when was caynabo not safe?

 

They are not drilling in Buhoodle or eastern sool, mala geogriphiga kugu yara adag.

I agree with the xaji this is caynabo and its always been safe and pro SOMALILAND so why not drill.

[N.O.R.F]

Its been a very interesting couple of weeks.

[Siciid1986]

Genel decides risk is worth it searching for oil in Somaliland

 

Tuesday, 23 July 2013 21:54

 

Genel decides risks is worth it searching for oil in Somaliland but if Somaliland becomes oil-rich thanks to Genel, the question of how to divide the spoils could hasten a political settlement with Mogadishu — or ignite a new conflict.

Tony HaywardTony Hayward

Somalilandsun - Finding oil could be the least of Genel Energy's problems. If the explorer fronted by Tony Hayward finds as much of the black stuff as it expects to, it may find itself in the middle of several territorial disputes in one of the world's most volatile regions.

Next year Genel will drill its first wells in Somaliland, the breakaway East African territory that declared independence from Somalia more than 20 years ago after a bloody civil war.

 

The prize could be huge. At 40,000 sq km, its acreage in the nation is bigger than the whole of the Kurdish region of Iraq and geologists believe that the rock formations in Somaliland are similar to those in Yemen on the other side of the Gulf of Aden, which until recently was producing more than 400,000 barrels of crude per day.

But nobody knows for sure. The region remains largely unexplored. Oil majors, including BP, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, began to work there in the 1980s but stopped when the war started.

With the recent return of some semblance of stability, the new Somaliland Government has relicensed some of these blocks to Genel, without the oil majors' consent. If the company discovers a gusher, it could trigger a legal battle over who owns the oil.

Mr Hayward admits: "Some of our acreage overlaps with blocks previously awarded to ConocoPhillips, BP and Chevron. When it relicensed them, Somaliland was very clear about the legal rights and status of the blocks. We have taken a lot of legal advice on that. We are very confident about our position."

Genel is also likely to find itself caught in the cross-fire between Somalia and Somaliland. No government in the world, least of all Mogadishu, recognises the breakaway republic's sovereignty. Somalia, therefore, is also likely to stake its claim to any oil find there.

 

Mr Hayward, the formerGenel oil blocks in somalilandGenel oil blocks in somaliland BP chief executive who quit in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, is sanguine about the risk. Besides, he has faced similar hurdles in northern Iraq, fraught with internecine politics between Baghdad and the Kurds.

 

"Perhaps Mogadishu would have something to say, but the Somaliland Government would be alongside us. There would be an interesting debate [over how the two governments split their share of the proceeds]."

Somaliland remains an unknown quantity for the City, too, but analysts are aware of the dangers. Andrew Whittock, of Liberum Capital, said: "Politically, there has to be a risk in trying to commercialise reserves in a country where it's not clear who you should be reporting to or who has the authority."

 

According to the East African Energy Forum, a group of Somali expatriate oil professionals, Genel Energy is part of a wider political game being played out between Somalia and Somaliland. Abdillahi Mohamud, its managing director, said: "The Somalia conflict is no longer about oil and gas. It's about the economy and natural resources. Smaller companies are willing to be part of the political game where these rights are awarded. They are positioning themselves."

If Somaliland becomes oil-rich thanks to Genel, the question of how to divide the spoils could hasten a political settlement with Mogadishu — or ignite a new conflict. If it's the former, expect the oil majors to revive their interest in Somaliland, putting Genel in pole position. In the meantime, Mr Hayward is happy to take the risk.

 

Source: Sundaytimes

 

 

 

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ Lol Somalia claiming Somaliland oil , why dont they try that and see what happens.