Trawling deep waters

DESPITE ITS lack of success in deep-water exploration so far, the country is pressing ahead with attempts to distribute more deep-water acreage to international oil firms. One of the seven blocks to be put out for bids by the energy ministry on 30 April is a pure deep-water opportunity, Block 24, in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Tobago, in 1,500 metres of water (the ministry considers waters greater than 750 metres to be deep). Another, Block 22, north of Tobago, is partly in deep water, with depths ranging from 200 to 1,000 metres. Block 24 could have oil prospects. The Oligocene geological trend, first identified in Block 2c, to the west, where BHP Billiton made its 1bn barrel discovery