(Ecofin Agency) - Partners on the Rhourde Ouled Djemma and satellite fields in Blocks 401a/402a have entered into an agreement to renew the production sharing contract (PSC) for the field for another 10 years.

The partners include BHP Billiton, Eni and Sonatrach.

This agreement which is subjected to a final approval provides the companies, the opportunity to complete the unitization process to join the Sif Fatima field, where Sonatrach has a 100% stake, and the Sif Fatima North East (SFNE) field which is a part of the Rhourde Ouled Djemma (ROD) Unit.

The ROD Unit includes six satellite deposits in the Berkine Basin that pump oil back to a processing train.

BHP Billiton operates the field with a 38% non-operating interest alongside Eni and Sonatrach.

“BHP Billiton is very pleased that the PSC for the ROD Unit will be extended and we look forward to working with our partners on the continuance of these resources,” Steve Pastor (photo), BHP Billiton’s President Operations, Petroleum told Energy-pedia.

Block 401a and 402a are situated in the prolific Illizi-Ghadames Basin, south east of Algeria.

BHP Billiton made six oil finds on the blocks in the early 1990s, the most significant of which is the Rhourde Oulad Djemma (ROD) field.

The field which began producing oil in 2004 is located in the Berkine Basin in Algeria. The processing facility has a capacity of 80,000 bpd.

Anita Fatunji