The Perth-based company today said the gravity survey is the second stage of a planned ongoing works program of the five Taoudeni Basin blocks covering 193,200 square kilometres extending east from the Mauritania border.

The survey is flying from the northern Malian town of Timbuktu and will consist of about 24,800 line kilometres.

In November, Baraka farmed-out a 50% interest and operatorship of these blocks to Eni SPA and a 25% interest to Sonatrach International Petroleum Exploration and Production.

The transfer of interest is currently awaiting approval from the Malian authorities and Baraka has retained operational management of the gravity survey.

Baraka also completed a magnetic and radiometric acquisition involving 235,254 line kilometres over these blocks in November, with results due by the end of the 2007 first quarter.

Baraka said the airborne gravity survey, together with the results of the magnetic and radiometric surveys, would enable the joint venture to better define the basin structure(s) in these blocks and provide more definite targets for future oil and gas exploration.

“The regional airborne survey is expected to upgrade several of the identified structural trends within the Taoudeni Basin, with expected results leading to targeted ground work, the planning of a seismic acquisition program and the selection of drilling targets,” it said.

The airborne gravity survey is expected to take about 42 days to complete, while interpretation is due to be finished in second quarter 2007.

Baraka has an 18.75% interest in the five Taoudeni blocks, while Baraka Mali Ventures holds a 6.25% stake, Eni Mali 50% and SIPEX, 25%.