Liberia’s leading independent exploration and production firm Demus E&P says it is seeking international partners to invest in one of the country’s most exciting oil blocks in its quest to jumpstart the West African nation’s production. “We are seeking to partner with an international oil and gas firm for the Harper Basin Licensing Round 2020. Demus E&P intends to acquire 5%-15% working interest in the ventures,” noted a company statement made available to Offshore Africa Magazine.

Demus E&P, led by Michael B. Johnson, an experienced geoscientist and engineer, says it is hugely equipped to contribute significantly to a partnership going forward. “We believe that our unique company structure, knowledgeable team and resources offer value to our clients as they navigate the institutional and legal framework of the petroleum sector. We are well positioned to provide expert assistance and advisory to our partners at the start and continuation of oil and gas operations in Liberia,” he said. After working in several basins around the world in different roles, Mr. Johnson decided that it was time to assemble a capable team to take advantage of the huge opportunities in the West African Equatorial Margin offers.

Demus E&P is strongly focused on the West African Equatorial Margin that has yielded significant oil and gas discoveries in recent years. Liberia’s new exploration and production law reserves a mandatory minimum 5% equity stake in all petroleum agreements for Liberian-owned entities. Nine unexplored offshore blocks are on offer in the very promising Harper Basin. “The Basin is one of the last undrilled frontiers in the world for oil and gas exploration,” according to Liberian officials. Exploration in the past points to the presence of a working petroleum system.

Liberia says it has identified more than 40 “large” leads in the offshore Harper Basin Blocks and is hoping to attract the needed exploration commitments from international oil companies. Future drilling sweet spots on the Harper Basin have been identified, officials said. Additionally, Block sizes have been increased to about 3,500sq.km while data packages are being enhanced. “All the elements of an effective petroleum system are interpreted in the basin. And more than 30 large leads (more than 40km2 area) and 11 larger than 100km2,” revealed Saifuah Mai Gray, President of National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).

According Mr. Archie Donmoe, head of the Liberian Petroleum Regulatory Authority, some features of the Harper basin are;

• The geological evolution of offshore Liberia is related to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Harper Basin offers significant exploration potential, being the last real frontier basin of West Africa.
• Several sub-commercial discoveries have proven that the petroleum systems are working offshore Liberia.
• The Harper Basin has a petroleum system analogous to surrounding basins associated with the recent discoveries in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and also the conjugate Guyana.

Liberia is hoping to revive interest in its oil and gas potential with the signing of a new E&P law by President George Weah and Demus has a well positioned strategy to play a major role in this comeback.