The $US35 million program, to be undertaken by E.NA.GEO (Entreprise Nationale de Géophysique) is scheduled to start in October.
Baraka said the survey would initially see 4200km of seismic shot and then supplemented with 1800km of infill seismic lines to define future drilling prospects.
“This regional seismic survey will be essential in developing the necessary regional understanding to plan infill seismic followed by the selection of drilling locations,” Baraka’s chief executive Dr Mark Fenton said.
“The five blocks within Mali are adjacent to Baraka’s two blocks in Mauritania where the company has recently commenced a large airborne magnetic and gravity survey in joint venture with Woodside Petroleum.”
Fenton said Baraka would, as a result, have the most complete data coverage of any company operating in the “highly prospective” Taoudeni Basin.
“The size of the investment in the Mali seismic survey underlines the joint venture’s view of the prospectivity of this region and is a huge vote of confidence in the future of the Malian oil industry.”
The survey represents the third stage of an ongoing works program within Baraka’s five Taoudeni Basin blocks, numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9, covering 193,200 square kilometres extending east from the border with Mauritania.
Together with the completed magnetic, radiometric and gravity surveys, the seismic will help the JV to better define the basin structures in these blocks.
In November, Baraka farmed out a 50% interest and operatorship of these blocks to Eni S.P.A. and a 25% interest to Sonatrach International Petroleum Exploration and Production B.V.I (SIPEX).
