Block 3

=Overview= Block 3 is located in the Mafia Deep Basin offshore from the Rovuma and Rufiji Deltas with water depths ranging from 100 to 3,000 metres. Ophir Energy operates the block with 80% and Pavillion Energy holds a 20% stake. So far, only one well has been drilled on the block, the Papa-1 well, where gas was discovered in 2012.

=Chronology=
 * In April 2006, Block 3 was directly awarded to Ophir Energy by the Government of Tanzania.


 * In May 2010, BG Group acquired 60% of Ophir’s interests in the Block 3 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).
 * In August 2012, Ophir Energy and BG Group announced that the Papa-1 well has made the first cretaceous gas discovery in Block 3. The preliminary analysis of the discovery suggest an in-place resource of 0.5 – 2.0 TCF.


 * In 2013, GAIL India and Pavillion Energy bid to acquire stakes in blocks 1, 3 and 4. In December 2013, Pavillion Energy announced that it had entered an agreement to purchase 20 per cent interest in blocks 1, 3 and 4 from Ophir Energy for a consideration of USD 1.288 billion.


 * In October 2014, BG Group announced that it had withdrawn from the licence for Block 3 as it was not worth further exploration. In consequence, Ophir Energy applied to the Government of Tanzania to take over BG’s 60% interest and operatorship of the licence, hence bringing its stake in the block to 80%.



=References=