Morocco
Caithness hold interests in three exploration permits, an exclusive reconnaissance licence and three exploitation concessions onshore Morocco through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cabre Maroc Limited:
- Rharb Centre (exploration permit)
- Rharb Sud (exploration permit)
- Fès (exploration permit)
- Taounate (reconnaissance licence)
Our partner in the blocks is the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), the Moroccan state hydrocarbons and mines company, which holds a 35% interest in the Zhana 1 exploitation concession and 25% interest in all our other blocks. Caithness holds the remaining 75% or 65% interest and is Operator.
The Rharb Centre, Rharb Sud and Fès permits together cover an area of approximately 4,330 sq km (1,080,000 acres), while the Taounate licence covers an area of approximately 4,660 sq km.
Rharb basin
The Rharb Centre exploration licence and the western part of the Rharb South exploration licence are in the Rharb basin which contains shallow Miocene gas fields.
We have discovered and successfully brought into production several gas fields and these are covered by the three exploitation concessions. We run a profitable business selling gas to local industrial customers.
We have identified many further gas prospects which we plan to develop in the coming years in order to fulfil the large local demand for gas. Exploitation concessions will be awarded over the areas of gas fields discovered.
Prerifan Ridges and Central Prerif
The eastern part of the Rharb Centre licence lies within the prerifan ridges and central prerif domain. Historically there has been oil production from shallow reservoirs which have now been drained. We are working on deeper prospects.
Fès Permit
The Fès permit lies within the prerif domain to the east of the Rharb basin from which it is separated by the prerifan ridges and central prerif.
It is an overthrust area with potential for very large discoveries of gas and oil. We have mapped a number of large prospects and leads. In October 2008, we spudded FES-1, the first deep well on the Fès permit. The well has tight hole status.
In the winter of 2009/2010 we acquired a detailed airbourne gravity gradiometry survey over the permit. This has been processed and is being interpreted.
Taounate Licence
The area covered by the Taounate licence lies immediately to the north-east of the Fès permit and contains extensions of the Fès geological plays.
In the winter of 2009/2010 we acquired a reconnaissance airbourne gravity gradiometry survey over the licence. This has been processed and will be interpreted shortly.
