BP announced first gas production from the second stage of its West Nile Delta development offshore Egypt. 

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that Vivo Energy, a market-leading company that distributes and markets Shell branded fuels and lubricants in Africa, has selected IBM Services for its digital transformation journey based on SAP S/4HANA®.  A rapid start to the relationship using agile methods has already led to the completion of a major project milestone with two out of fifteen of Vivo Energy's country locations transferred to SAP S/4HANA to help boost efficiency and unlock operational insights.

Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill") announces today that it has entered into a 50:50 joint venture with Empresa de Serviços e Sondagens de Angola Ltda, an affiliate of Sonangol E.P. ("Sonangol"). The new joint venture, Sonadrill, will operate four drillships, focusing on opportunities in Angolan waters.

SDX Energy Inc. (TSXV, AIM: SDX), the North Africa focused oil and gas company, is pleased to announce that it has increased its presence in Morocco with the awards of the Moulay Bouchta Ouest and Lalla Mimouna Sud licenses.

Total has made a significant gas condensate discovery on the Brulpadda prospects, located on Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua Basin, 175 kilometers off the southern coast of South Africa. 

Gas discovery in the offshore Outeniqua Basin speaks to South Africa’s hidden oil & gas potential; gives an opportunity for a meaningful dialogue on attractive legislation and local content development.

Eland Oil & Gas PLC (AIM: ELA), an oil & gas production and development company operating in West Africa with an initial focus on Nigeria, is delighted to announce that through its joint-venture subsidiary, Elcrest Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd ("Elcrest"), it has completed drilling phase of the Gbetiokun-3 appraisal/development well.

In December, I was accompanying OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo and Africa Oil and Power CEO, Guillaume Doane on a working visit to Angola. This is an oil market that has been under a lot of scrutiny by many industry players and there is no question that Angola’s oil sector is at a time of transformation. It is now clear that when President João Lourenço’s promised he would clean the country’s administration and revamp its economic engine, namely the national oil company Sonangol, he meant business.

Total has agreed to develop joint activities in the downstream petroleum sector in Angola, with national company Sonangol. Already long-term partners in the upstream business, the two companies have decided to establish a Joint Venture company to develop a common retail and distribution activity in the country, the fourth largest market in sub-Saharan Africa.

Eland Oil & Gas PLC (AIM: ELA), an oil & gas production and development company operating in West Africa with an initial focus on Nigeria, announces that through its joint-venture subsidiary, Elcrest Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd ("Elcrest"), development operations continue on the Gbetiokun field.

CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883, NYSE: CEO, TSX: CNU) announced today Egina Field, located in deepwater offshore Nigeria, has commenced production.

Masana Petroleum Solutions has completed a transaction with a new Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) consortium that will see the new partners acquire a 35% stake in the business after two of its founding shareholders exercised their right to realise their value in the company.

Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, has achieved its first industry accreditation in South Africa for flow metering verification.

Africa Oil Corp. ("Africa Oil" or the "Company") (TSX:AOI)(OMX:AOI) is pleased to report that it has completed the previously announced (November 9, 2015) farmout with Maersk Olie og Gas A/S ("Maersk Oil") related to the South Omo and Rift Basin Blocks in Ethiopia. 

Chariot Oil & Gas Limited (AIM: CHAR), the Atlantic margins focused oil and gas exploration company, today announces that it has completed its 3D seismic survey in Blocks 2312 & 2412A (the "Central Blocks") offshore Namibia in conjunction with its partners AziNam (20%), NAMCOR (10%) and Ignitus (5%).