Africa: the Continent is booming. [Extensive survey of drilling activities in each African country]

Journal Article · Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 1975 · World Oil; (United States)

OSTI ID:7355295

Civil wars, political unrest, and skyrocketing exploration and production costs were unable to hamper Africa's developing oil business. Of the major producing nations, Libya, Algeria, and Nigeria recorded production declines. In the case of the North African countries, the drop was caused by high prices. Nigeria ordered sharp production curtailments last year, but Egypt's production decline may be on the verge of reversing. Algeria and Libya pruned their prices well back in an attempt to increase their share of an increasingly buyer's market. Angola delivered more oil last year than the year before despite open warfare among the factions attempting to take control of the country once Portugal relinquishes authority November 1975. The Nigerian oil industry was as yet unaffected by the July coup which unseated General Gowon after a nine-year rule. Gabon increased its output and was elected to OPEC as a result. Zaire will begin to land oil from its offshore field later this year and Cameroon is also preparing to bring oil ashore in 1977. Continental Oil Co. made two oil discoveries in Chad, one of which seems to be commercial. South Africa is continuing its search for its first production and an uncommercial gas discovery was made in the Orange River Delta of South West Africa. Drilling was off in the Congo, Cameroon, and Nigeria, but well above 1973 levels in Gabon, Angola, Tunisia, and Algeria. Egyptian operations remained steady, but in view of the concession activity in the past year or so, drilling should increase dramatically within the next year.

• OSTI ID: 7355295
• Journal Information: World Oil; (United States), Vol. 181:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
AFRICA
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
INDIAN OCEAN
OFFSHORE DRILLING
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
RED SEA
DRILLING
ENERGY CONSERVATION
EXPLORATION
SEISMIC SURVEYS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
INDUSTRY
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
294002* - Energy Planning & Policy- Petroleum
294003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing