Aminex plc (LON:AEX) was a feature this week after it announced a major upgrade to the gas resource estimates for the Ntorya project in Tanzania.
The Ntorya discovery is now estimated to have some 466bn cubic feet of mean gas initially in place (GIIP), up from the previous estimate of 153bn cubic feet.
The new estimates range from 62bn cubic feet in the more conservative P90 case to 1.13 trillion cubic feet in the P10 scenario.
WATCH: 'Rovuma Basin continues to deliver', says Aminex boss
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It follows the successful Ntorya-2 well, drilled earlier this year, with the latest estimates now based upon data from two wells. The estimates do not include any consideration for the adjoining exploration acreage.
Aminex’s partner in Tanzania, Solo Oil PLC (LON:SOLO) reckoned the Ntorya project could be host to some 186bn cubic feet (BCF) of 2C contingent gas resources, up from a past estimate of 70 BCF.
Another focus was Morocco and Italy-focused explorer Sound Energy PLC (LON:SOU) which revealed that it has expanded its relationship with US oil services giant Schlumberger.
The deal will see the AIM-listed gas exploration and development group receive a free carry on a US$27mln geophysical programme.
In return, Schlumberger will receive 27.5% stakes respectively in the newly acquired Meridja licence and the Tendrara relinquished areas. Both are in Morocco.
WH Ireland analyst Brendan Long said: “This is clearly a positive endorsement by Schlumberger of the relinquishment areas and an indication of Schlumberger’s satisfaction with its working relationship with Sound.”
Staying with a Morocco-focus, SDX Energy Inc (LON:SDX, CVE:SDX) told investors it remains on track to drill new wells in the country later this year, as it has secured extensions to its exploration permits.
Elsewhere in Africa, Eland Oil & Gas PLC (LON:ELA) unveiled a reserves upgrade that delivers a three-fold increase in recoverable reserves for the wells at the Opuama and Gbetiokun operations in Nigeria.
It gives Eland’s assets a net present value of US$186.8mln, versus a current market value of just over £100mln.
And Rockhopper Exploration Plc (LON:RKH) said it has kicked off a new drill programme in Egypt alongside partner Kuwait Energy.
Far away from the dark continent, 88 Energy Ltd (LON:88E, ASX:88E) has kicked off the hotly anticipated Icewine-2 drilling programme which aims to confirm the commercial potential of the HRZ shale discovery in Alaska.
WATCH: 'An exciting time for 88 Energy' - Proactive's Jamie Ashcroft
Elsewhere, Trinity Exploration & Production Inc’s (LON:TRIN) said it is looking to boost production after its financial overhaul at start of the year.
Daily production was 2,542 bopd (2,896 bopd) in 2016 at an average realised price of US$39.4/bbl (US$45.4/bbl).
Northern Petroleum Plc (LON:NOP) said that 2016 was a 'pivotal year' for the AIM-listed oiler, in which it saw revenues climb and losses narrow.
The group revealed that pre-tax losses for the 12 months to end December were reduced to US$2.5mln (2015: US$10.7mln) on revenues, which were US$3.6mln (2015: US$0.3mln).
WATCH: "A very good year under difficult circumstances" says Northern Petroleum boss
Closer to home, IGas Energy Plc (LON:IGAS) expects to start new shale drilling in the UK before the end of this year, and it is now looking at sites in the North West for its next projects.
Recent breakthroughs, in 2016, saw IGas and its partners secure planning permission for two well sites in the Gainsborough Trough, in the East Midlands.
WATCH: IGas chief 'looking forward to getting on' with East Midlands drilling
Meanwhile, shale group Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd's (LON:FOG, CVE:FO) chief executive Philip O'Quigley told investors he is hopeful of a favourable outcome to the current hiatus in Australia, where there is presently a moratorium on fracking.
Drilling operations may resume “in the not too distant future”, according to O'Quigley.
Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) PLC (LON:EOG) confirmed it is part of a ‘multi-client’ project offshore Ireland which was announced this week by oil and gas services group TGS.
TGS will acquire new seismic data for all of Europa’s Licence Option (LO) 16/19 as part of the Crean 3D project in the Atlantic Margin, off Ireland’s west coast.
Europa O&G also confirmed this week that it is now clear to complete its agreed farm-out deal with Cairn Energy PLC (LON:CNE) after the Irish authorities approved the deal.
Meanwhile, Tullow Oil plc (LON:TLW) confirmed production averaged 85,700 barrels of oil per day in the first quarter of 2017, which is at the top of the group’s target range for the whole year.
The firm also told investors this week that received acceptances for just over 95% of the new shares available in its £607mln (US$790mln) rights issue priced at 130p each.
Also on the funding front, Tlou Energy Limited (LON:TLOU) told investors it is bringing in A$800,000 of new capital through its share purchase plan (SPP), and it will separately raise a further A$700,000 after additional requests for new shares.
And Premier Oil PLC (LON:PMO) told investors that it has now secured ‘lock in’ arrangements with more than three quarters of holders of its US$345mln convertible bonds.