TotalEnergies secures four offshore oil exploration blocks in Liberia

TotalEnergies has signed four production sharing contracts for offshore blocks covering 12,700 km² off the coast of Liberia, marking a new step in the expansion of its activities in West Africa.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

TotalEnergies has signed four Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) for exploration blocks LB-6, LB-11, LB-17, and LB-29 located in the deep waters of Liberia’s southern basin. These blocks, awarded following the 2024 Direct Negotiation Licensing Round organised by the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Agency, cover a total area of approximately 12,700 square kilometres.

Initial phase includes seismic surveys

The initial work programme includes the acquisition of three-dimensional (3D) seismic data to assess the geological potential of the targeted blocks. This preliminary phase aims to identify structures likely to contain hydrocarbons, a necessary condition before any future exploratory drilling.

Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice President Exploration at TotalEnergies, stated that “entry into these blocks aligns with our strategy to diversify our exploration portfolio toward new high-potential oil basins,” highlighting the company’s intent to target low-cost resources in high-value environments.

Strengthened position in West Africa

TotalEnergies, already active in several countries across the region, is continuing its focused expansion in deepwater assets. The company has developed recognised expertise in this domain through similar projects in Angola, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo.

The awarded blocks represent a strategic opportunity for Liberia, which is aiming to revive international investor interest after several years of stagnation in the oil sector. The contracts also include obligations related to local content, which could generate economic benefits for the country.

Revival of Liberia’s oil prospects

The signing of these PSCs marks a turning point for the Liberian energy sector. The outcome of the seismic survey will determine the potential transition to the drilling phase, depending on the analysis of the geological structures identified.

This initiative could also spark renewed interest from other operators, reinforcing exploration momentum in this underdeveloped basin. The next steps will depend on the interpretation of seismic data and the technical conditions necessary for future development.

An independent report estimates 13.03 billion barrels of potential oil resources in Greenland’s Jameson Land Basin, placing the site among the largest undeveloped fields globally.
Impacted by falling oil prices and weak fuel sales, Sinopec reports a sharp decline in profitability over the first three quarters, with a strategic shift toward higher-margin products.
Citizen Energy Ventures enters the private placement market with a $20mn fund to develop eight wells in the Cherokee Formation of Oklahoma’s historic Anadarko Basin.
US crude stocks dropped by 6.9 million barrels, defying forecasts, amid a sharp decline in imports and a weekly statistical adjustment by the Energy Information Administration.
Lukoil has started divesting its foreign assets following new US oil sanctions, a move that could reshape its overseas presence and impact supply in key European markets.
Kazakhstan is reviewing Lukoil's stakes in major oil projects after the Russian group announced plans to divest its international assets following new US sanctions.
The Mexican state-owned company reduced its crude extraction by 6.7% while boosting its refining activity by 4.8%, and narrowed its financial losses compared to the previous year.
The new US licence granted to Chevron significantly alters financial flows between Venezuela and the United States, affecting the local currency, oil revenues and the country's economic balance.
Three Crown Petroleum reports a steady initial flow rate of 752 barrels of oil equivalent per day from its Irvine 1NH well in the Powder River Basin, marking a key step in its horizontal drilling programme in the Niobrara.
Cenovus Energy adjusts its MEG Energy acquisition offer to $30 per share and signs a voting support agreement with Strathcona Resources, while selling assets worth up to CAD150mn.
Iraq is negotiating a potential revision of its OPEC production limit while maintaining exports at around 3.6 million barrels per day despite significantly higher capacity.
Le Premier ministre hongrois se rendra à Washington pour discuter avec Donald Trump des sanctions américaines contre le pétrole russe, dans un contexte de guerre en Ukraine et de dépendance persistante de la Hongrie aux hydrocarbures russes.
Nigerian tycoon Aliko Dangote plans to expand his refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day, reshaping regional energy dynamics through an unmatched private-sector project in Africa.
COOEC has signed a $4bn EPC contract with QatarEnergy to develop the offshore Bul Hanine oil field, marking the largest order ever secured by a Chinese company in the Gulf.
The group terminates commitments for the Odin and Hild rigs in Mexico, initially scheduled through November 2025 and March 2026, due to sanctions affecting an involved counterparty, while reaffirming compliance with applicable international frameworks.
Shell has filed an appeal against the cancellation of its environmental authorisation for Block 5/6/7 off the South African coast, aiming to continue exploration in a geologically strategic offshore zone.
The Greek government has selected a consortium led by Chevron to explore hydrocarbons in four maritime zones in the Ionian Sea and south of Crete, with geophysical surveys scheduled to begin in 2026.
Algerian company Sonatrach has resumed exploration activities in Libya's Ghadames Basin, halted since 2014, as part of a strategic revival of the country's oil sector.
The Indian refiner segments campaigns, strengthens documentary traceability and adjusts contracts to secure certified shipments to the European Union, while redirecting ineligible volumes to Africa and the Americas based on market conditions.
US authorities have authorised a unit at Talen Energy’s Wagner plant in Maryland to operate beyond regulatory limits until the end of 2025 to strengthen grid reliability.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.