Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) has taken a 36% interest in block 514 off Cote d’Ivoire.

Statoil (OSE:STL, NYSE:STO) has farmed into a deepwater license operated by Hess (HES:NYSE) offshore Ghana.

Hyperdynamics Corp. (NYSE:HDY) is looking to sell part of its 77% interest in a 25,000-sq km (9,653-sq mi) exploration concession offshore Guinea, West Africa.

Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas has signed a farm-out agreement with Bermuda-based Azimuth for three licenses offshore Namibia.

Kosmos Energy has signed three production sharing contracts (PSCs) with Mauritania’s government for contiguous offshore blocks C8, C12, and C13.

Tunisia’s Hydrocarbons Consultative Committee has approved Dragon Oil’s farm-in to the offshore Bargou joint venture offshore Tunisia.

BG Group/Ophir Energy have discovered gas in the deepwater Jodari structure off southern Tanzania.

Brenham Oil & Gas Corp. (OTCBB:BRHM) has accepted a letter of award for a 15% interest in four offshore exploration blocks from the government of Equatorial Guinea.

BP has agreed to farm into Serica Energy’s license 0047 offshore Namibia.

Shell Bidco, a subsidiary of Shell, has reached agreement to acquire UK independent Cove Energy.

Total has signed production sharing agreements with state-owned Petroci for three new ultra-deepwater licenses off Cote d’Ivoire.

Enigma Oil & Gas Exploration has secured approval from Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy for a farm-out agreement with BP in offshore block 2714A.

New Zealand Oil and Gas (NZOG) is finalizing arrangements for a new 2D seismic survey in the Gulf of Gabes ofshore Tunisia.

The Offshore West Africa 2012 Conference and Exhibition opened on January 24 in Abuja, Nigeria.

CAMAC Energy has provisionally been awarded two offshore exploration blocks by the Gambian Ministry of Petroleum.

Chevron Nigeria Ltd. is learning more details behind the K.S. Endeavor jackup drilling rig fire.

In its latest report, Chevron Nigeria Ltd. continues work to contain a fire on the K.S. Endeavor drilling rig offshore Nigeria. The rig is operated by FODE Drilling Nigeria Ltd.

Total has signed two exploration licenses with the Mauritanian government.

The high temperatures and pressures which occur in subsea flowlines induce large compressive axial forces in the pipe wall.

Cobalt International has signed a PSC with Sonangol for block 20 offshore Angola.

BP has secured access to five new deepwater exploration and production blocks offshore Angola.