Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production (OOCEP), the wholly owned upstream subsidiary of Oman Oil Company, plans to drill two exploration wells targeting hydrocarbon prospects in the east of the sultanate, a report said.

OOCEP has identified two key prospects as “drilling candidates” in the priority (Area-1) prospective zone in Block 42, according to the Oman Observer report.

The first exploration well, which is scheduled for drilling in the second quarter (Q2) of the year, will test the presence of hydrocarbons in the Rimal al Sharqiya structure, the report said.

A second exploration well will follow on the heels of the first well targeting independent reservoirs in the Sedrah NW structure, it added.

“The second well is considered as a play opener and, upon success, will have major implication on block prospectivity. The two wells are planned to be drilled back to back to optimize civil construction and rig mobilisation activities,” OOCEP was quoted as saying in a new report.

The two exploration wells are the result of comprehensive seismic interpretation and mapping work done by OOCEP in the Priority Area-1 zone.  A number of potential exploration leads have been mapped at Haima, Mid-Lower Nafun, Masirah Bay and Abu Mahara reservoir levels, the company said.

Block 42 represents a “suitable starting point” for the implementation of its goals to conduct exploration operations in Oman, said the OOCEP report.

 According to the company, exploration in the concession is still at the margins of a frontier exploration domain where geological risks are relatively higher but could open altogether a new material hydrocarbon province in Oman if exploratory wells come to be successful.

OOCEP is also gearing up to launch its Musandam Gas Project (MGP) at Tibat in the north of the country. Pre-commissioning of all process systems has commenced with commissioning slated during the middle of Q3 2015, it said.