UK listed independent Ophir Energy says preparations for drilling to restart on the deepwater Ayame-1 oil exploration well offshore Ivory Coast are at an advanced stage.

The CI-GNL consortium, headed by Total, has been granted rights by the Ivorian Government to construct and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) re-gasification terminal with a capacity of 3mt/y.

The Ivory Coast will organize debt relief for the state oil refinery, Societe Ivoirienne de Rafinage (SIR), using public and private funds.

Exxon Mobil Corporation will start drilling its first exploratory well off the coast of Liberia in November. The company will drill a deepwater exploration well on the Liberia-13 Block, located about 50 miles offshore of the country.

UK’s Tullow declared force majeure on Seadrill contract for the West Leo rig contract. Tullow sent the notice in early October, claiming the field the rig has been hired for, is subject to a drilling moratorium by the government of Ghana.

Ivory Coast signed a partnership agreement to create a consortium headed by France's Total to build a liquid natural gas (LNG) import terminal that could begin receiving gas shipments by mid-2018.

Ghana’s President, John Mahama, said that a maritime boundary dispute with Ivory Coast has affected the development of the new TEN oil wells. He confirmed that Ghana is dedicated to a peaceful resolution of this disagreements.

Tullow Oil has struck a sizeable column of "good quality light oil" at a deep-water exploration well off West Africa.