Labat Africa is set to take a majority interest in five petroleum exploration blocks offshore Namibia.

Afren has farmed out 17.4% interest in license OPL 310 offshore Nigeria to Lekoil, pending Nigerian ministerial consent.

PA Resources (PAR) says it continues to discuss farming out of ownership interests in the Zarat license offshore Tunisia.

SINOANGOL Co. Ltd. has applied to the National Petroleum Agency of Sao Tome and Principe for direct negotiations on an award of acreage in offshore Economic Exclusive Zone block 2.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM) has acquired 80% interest in Liberia block 13 (LB-13) from Canadian Overseas Petroleum (Bermuda) Ltd.

INPEX Mozambique has farmed into 25% of Statoil’s interest in its operated exploration license offshore Mozambique.

This month, Infield Systems looks at the emerging East African offshore market and the leading operators expected to drive development offshore Tanzania and Mozambique.

Earlier this year we suggested the industry's increasing challenge to replenish and retain its skilled labor pool would be an emerging theme.

FAR Ltd. (ASX:FAR) is stepping up its involvement offshore Kenya.

Cairn Energy has agreed to become operator of three contiguous blocks offshore Senegal.

Eni (MI:ENI;NYSE:E) has sold 28.57% of its shares in East Africa Area 4 offshore Mozambique.

Cap Energy has agreed to acquire majority shares in Sphere Petroleum.

In 2007, Ghana made oil and gas discoveries in two deepwater blocks: West Cape Three Points and Deepwater Tano.

Tullow expects to start a frontier drilling campaign offshore Mauritania this spring.

Tullow Oil estimates capex of $4.5 billion for the development of the TEN project offshore Ghana.

A sidetrack well at the Harvest Natural Resources-operated Dussafu license offshore Gabon has encountered 65 ft (20 m) of oil pay in the presalt Dentale reservoir.

Appraisal continues on the deepwater Mzia gas field offshore Tanzania.

PA Resources (PAR) continues to seek farm-in partners for the Zarat license offshore Tunisia.

Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS) has unveiled its planned capital program for 2013.

Elenilto is named operator of the Senegal Offshore Sud Shallow Oil block production sharing contract. Petrosen will have a minority participation interest.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) has agreed to acquire a 75% operating interest from Impact Oil & Gas in the Tugela South Exploration Right concession offshore South Africa.