DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kosmos Energy (NYSE: KOS) announced today that it has signed three Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with the Government of Mauritania for Blocks C8, C12, and C13 offshore Mauritania. The contracts will take effect upon formal ratification by the Government of Mauritania. The blocks, which are contiguous, range in water depth between 1,600 and 3,000 meters (approximately 5,250 to 9,800 feet), and have a combined acreage extent of approximately 27,200 square kilometers (6.7 million gross acres).
Kosmos will be operator of the three blocks with a 90 percent interest. The national oil company, Societe Mauritanienne des Hydrocabures (SMH), will hold a carried interest of 10 percent. In the initial exploration phase under each of the contracts, Kosmos plans to acquire 2D and 3D seismic data. The Company targets first drilling as early as 2014. The execution of the PSCs represents Kosmos’ initial entry into Mauritania and significantly expands the Company’s exploration footprint.
Brian F. Maxted, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “With our exploration program focused on unlocking new petroleum systems by drilling multiple basin-opening wells on an annual basis, the offshore Mauritania opportunity fits very well strategically with Kosmos’ existing portfolio. We have now captured approximately 24 million gross acres of high-impact exploration potential, with additional new venture initiatives ongoing to selectively further our opportunity set. The new blocks captured reside in the proven offshore Mauritania salt basin and include the outboard fairway of the under-explored Upper Cretaceous stratigraphic play concept, Kosmos’ core exploration theme. We look forward to initiating a seismic program over the blocks towards the end of this year or early next year.”
A map of the new acreage captured will be available under the Operations tab at www.kosmosenergy.com.
About Kosmos Energy
Kosmos Energy is a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on frontier and emerging areas in Africa and South America. The Company’s asset portfolio includes existing production, major discoveries and exploration prospects offshore Ghana, as well as exploration licenses with significant hydrocarbon potential offshore Mauritania, Morocco and Suriname and onshore Cameroon. Kosmos is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol KOS. For additional information, visit www.kosmosenergy.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The Company’s estimates and forward-looking statements are mainly based on its current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect or may affect its businesses and operations. Although the Company believes that these estimates and forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to the Company. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “will” or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. Further information on such assumptions, risks and uncertainties is available in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings. The Company’s SEC filings are available on the Company’s website at www.kosmosenergy.com. Kosmos undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or correct these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.