Sterling Energy has secured ministerial approval from Cameroon to take Murphy Oil’s 50% operated interest in the offshore Ntem concession.

Formal ratification should follow by way of presidential decree.

Ntem is a large under-explored block, in water depths ranging from 400-2,000 m (1,312-6,562 ft), in the prospective southern Douala – Rio Muni basin.

Last year the partners satisfied the minimum work obligation for the current phase by drilling the (unsuccessful) Bamboo-1 well.