BHP Billiton, Eni and Sonatrach signed an agreement to extend the production sharing contract (PSC) for the Rhourde Ouled Djemma (ROD) and satellite fields in Blocks 401a/402a for an additional 10 years.

President Operations Petroleum, Steve Pastor, said “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.”

The agreement, pending final approval, also lays the foundation for the completion of the unitization process to connect the Sif Fatima field (SF), where Sonatrach has a 100 per cent stake, and the Sif Fatima North East (SFNE) field which is a part of the ROD Unit.

The ROD Unit consists of six satellite deposits in the Berkine Basin that pump oil back to a dedicated processing train. BHP Billiton has a 38 per cent non-operating interest and an entity comprised of Eni and Sonatrach is the operator.