Qatar Petroleum has agreed a deal with Total to buy stakes in two blocks offshore Guyana.

Total currently has 25% in the Orinduik and Kanuku blocks, but will sell 10% equity each to Qatar Petroleum.

Tullow Oil operates Orinduik and Repsol operates Kanuku.

Three exploration wells are planned in these blocks this year: two on the Orinduik block, including the Jethro well which is currently being drilled, and one on the Kanuku block.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, CEO of Qatar Petroleum, said: “We are pleased to expand our global exploration footprint into Guyana together with our valuable, long-term partner, Total, in these offshore blocks in this prospective basin.

“We hope that the exploration efforts are successful. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners and the government of Guyana for their collaboration in this effort, and we look forward to working together in these blocks.”