In the running? Repsol and INA are said to be interested in a block on offer in Jordan
'Repsol and INA in Jordan frame'
Spanish producer Repsol YPF and Croatia's INA are interested in a block on offer in Jordan's latest licensing round, according to reports.
"Repsol and INA are interested in the Northern Highlands Block," a source in the kingdom's Natural Resources Authority (NRA) told Dow Jones Newswires.
A Repsol spokeswoman declined to comment, adding she could neither confirm nor deny that Repsol had bid in the round.
No one from INA was immediately available for comment when contacted by UpstreamOnline.
The NRA offered production sharing contracts for the Northern Highlands, Jafr and Central Jordan blocks to international companies and set 2 July as the closing date for offers, the news agency said.
The Northern Highland Block, which lies on the border with Syria, covers a total area of 7500 square kilometers and adjoins the West Safawi Block.
The Jafr Block adjoins the Azraq oilfield.
Jordan has signed a number of E&P deals in recent years, concluding four production sharing contracts in May 2007 for four blocks.
Last month, it signed a concession agreement with Shell covering the kingdom's oil shale deposits. Shell is expected to invest billions in the project over 20 years.
Jordan is also in the final stages of striking another deal with BP to boost output from the Risha gas field, Dow Jones said.
The Risha field, which lies on the border with Iraq, currently produces about 22 million cubic feet per day. Amman hopes to boost this to 50 MMcfd.