While Western governments tried to resolve the issues of international sanctions against Iran for the country's uranium enrichment program, nonnuclear weapons and violence were threatening oil production in Iraq and nearby countries in the Middle East.

Violent protests at Baker Hughes and Gazprom sites in Iraq caused both companies to halt operations throughout the country. A Muslim group stormed Schlumberger's camp in Rumaila North Field, forcing the company to suspend operations.

A primary oil export pipeline in northern Iraq was blown up on two separate occasions in Nineveh Province, forcing a suspension of production to the line. Iraq's export pipeline from the Kirkuk oilfields to Ceyhan, Turkey, was bombed, shutting down oil flow in the 900-kilometer pipeline for about the 30th time in 2013. The pipeline has been bombed an average of three times per month.

In Yemen's Shabwa Province, an oil export terminal was sabotaged on five separate occasions over the past year.

And in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, militants have forced all but two major companies to interrupt operations there. Local militants have been extorting money from oil companies to meet a continuing list of changing demands, and the two remaining companies, ONGC and Reliance Energy, are threatening to cease operations.

—Larry Prado

1 Canada

According to Ressources et Energie (Squatex), a reservoir rock discovery could contain a large quantity of conventional gas in Quebec, Canada's Lower St. Lawrence area. According to the company, the discovery was made at #1-Masse during a stratigraphic coring program: porous dolomitized limestone zones (Sayabec) of hydrothermal origin containing gas (89% methane) were found after drilling to 1,874 meters in the Mitis River area. During coring, a 10-meter zone began flowing gas and the core had 20.8% porosity and 1,624 millidarcies of permeability. The preliminary geophysical interpretation indicates that the prospective zone of seismic AVO anomalies could be more than 20 sq. kilometers, and the resulting volume could be up to 100 billion cu. ft. of gas. Additional appraisal and analysis are planned. Squatex is based in Broussard, Quebec.

2 Colombia

A Canacol Energy Ltd. appraisal well in Colombia's Block LLA23, #5-Labrador, was drilled to 10,972 ft. and hit 55 ft. of net oil pay. A 13-ft. pay zone in the C7 has an average porosity of 18%. Additional pay is in 42 ft. of Middle and Lower Gacheta reservoirs with an average porosity of 16%. Middle Gacheta was perforated from 10,514-22 ft. and flowed at a stable gross rate of 778 bbl. per day of 33-degreegravity API oil with a 10% water cut using a jet pump. Canacol is operator of Block LLA23 and the Labrador wells with 80% interest, in partnership with Petrolera Monterrico (20%).

3 Argentina

In Mendoza Province, Argentina, a Repsol-YPF discovery has an estimated 15 million bbl. of oil reserves. The exploration well, #1-X Mirador del Vale, was drilled to 1,789 meters on the El Manzano Block in the Mendoza extension of the Neuquen Basin. The well initially flowed 535 bbl. of oil per day. Additional exploration and appraisal drilling and testing are planned. Repsol-YPF's headquarters are in Buenos Aires.

4 Brazil

Houston-based Anadarko Petroleum Corp. announced an offshore Brazil oil discovery in Campos Basin Block BM-C-30. The discovery is on the eastern flank of the Wahoo structure. The exploration well, #5-Wahoo, hit more than 200 net ft. of high-quality pay in a presalt reservoir with a total hydrocarbon column of 460 ft. Additional details are not currently available. Anadarko holds a 30% interest and is the operator of BM-C-30 and the discovery well. BP holds a 25% interest, IBV Brasil holds 25%, and Maersk Oil holds the remaining 20% interest.

5 Nigeria

On onshore Block OPL310 in Nigeria, a Benin Basin discovery by London-based Afren Plc hit a 216-net-ft. zone of stacked pay with light oil. A sidetrack well, #1ST-Ogo ST, was drilled to test the down-dip extension of the four-way dip closed structure at #1-Ogo and a new play of strati-graphically trapped syn-rift sediments that pinch out onto the basement high. The #1ST-Ogo was drilled to 17,987 ft., 12,050 ft. true vertical. The well encountered hydrocarbon intervals in the same Turonian, Cenomanian and Albian reservoirs that were drilled and logged at #1-Ogo. All of the reservoir intervals indicated a larger structure than was estimated after completing #1-Ogo. The data also indicate that the syn-rift section encountered a 280-ft. (true vertical) gross hydrocarbon interval. Optimum is the operator of Block OPL310 and #1ST-Ogo with 60% interest in partnership with Afren, 22.86%, and Lekoil, 17.14%.

6 Norway

A Statoil discovery at the Snilehorn prospect in the Norwegian North Sea is estimated to have 55- to 100 million bbl. of recoverable light oil. The discovery is in Block 6407/8-6A in PL348/348B. The exploration well, #6407/8-6, and the sidetrack, #6407/8-6A, have proven several oil columns in Jurassic and the main wellbore has also proven oil in deeper Triassic rocks. Stavanger-based Sta-toil is the operator of PL348/348B, Block 6407/8, and the Snilehorn discovery wells with 35% interest. Its partners are GDF Suez E&P Norge (20%); E.On E&P Norge (17.5%); Core Energy (17.5%); Faroe Petroleum Norge (7.5%) and VNG Norge (2.5%).

7 Angola

Cobalt International Energy announced two discoveries in the deepwater pre-salt region offshore Angola at the exploration wells #1-Lontra (Block 20) and #1-Mavinga (Block 21). The #1-Lontra was drilled in 1,500 meters of water, and #1-Mavinga was drilled in 1,700 meters of water. The #1-Lontra confirmed an oil and gas discovery. Additional evaluation and drillstem testing are planned, and the rig will be moved to #1-Orca in Block 20. The #1-Mavinga hit approximately 30 meters of net oil pay and was tested with minidrillstem tests, direct pressure and permeability measurements, and log and core analyses. The Houston-based company estimates a gross oil column of up to 200 meters at the crest of the Mavinga structure, which is updip of #1-Mavinga. Cobalt is operator of Angola's Blocks 20 and 21 and #1-Mavinga and #1-Lontra with 40% interest. Sonangol is a partner in both blocks, with BP in Block 20, and with Nazaki Oil & Gas and Alper Oil in Block 21.

8 Yemen

An onshore Yemen Block 32 discovery by DNO International flowed 5,900 bbl. of 36-degreegravity API crude per day at #1-Salsala. The directionally drilled well reached 4,147 meters, and oil shows were found in Shuqra. A 32-meter interval was perforated, acidized and tested. The well was choked back to 3,400 bbl. per day due to limited surface storage capacity. Additional testing is planned, and an appraisal well is scheduled in 2014. Oslo-based DNO operates Block 32 and #1-Salsala with 38.95% interest in partnership with Ansan Wikfs, 42.93%, TransGlobe Energy, 13.12%, and Yemen Oil & Gas Corp., 5%.

9 Philippines

A Philippines oil discovery at exploration well #1-Malolos was reported by Sydney-based Gas2Grid in Cebu Island Block SC44. The well was perforated and flowtested in two oil-bearing sandstones at 2,219-27.5 meters and 2,178-95.4 meters. During a short-term test, the well flowed 100 to 200 bbl. of oil per day. The two oil-bearing sandstones are within the eastern limb of the Malolos anticline, where they are steeply dipping (60 degrees). Malolos Field is currently assessed at about 12 million bbl. of oil in place. Gas2Grid is the operator of Block SC44 with 100% interest.

10 Australia

Eni announced a significant discovery at appraisal well #1-Evans Shoal North in the Evans Shoal gas field in the Australian sector of the Timor Sea. The field is in the NT/P48 exploration permit area. The north Bonaparte Basin venture was drilled in 111 meters of water to 3,955 meters and is about 12 kilometers north of #2-Evans Shoal. According to the company, results indicate that these wells share common reservoir characteristics and are in hydraulic communication. During testing, 30 million cu. ft. of gas per day flowed at a constrained rate. The Rome-based company estimates that Evans Shoal Field contains at least 8 trillion cu. ft. of gas in place. Eni is the operator of #1-Evan Shoal North and holds 32.5% interest along with partners Shell, 32.5%, Petro - nas Carigali (Australia), 25%, and Osaka Gas Australia, 10%.

11 Papua New Guinea

A Papua New Guinea discovery in the Western Province was announced by Horizon Oil Ltd. at #1-Tingu. The Perth-based company encountered elevated gas readings when a core was cut through a secondary target (Toro reservoir) at 3,235 meters. Logging and test data confirms a liquids-rich gas column in the upper part of Elevala Sandstone and a gas-water contact in the reservoir. Pressures indicate the hydrocarbon column is similar to columns already proven at nearby wells #2/2ST1 Elevala and #1-Elevala and that Tingu and Elevala accumulations are probably connected through the Elevala Sandstone reservoir. Horizon plans additional logging, liner installation and flow tests. Horizon Oil is the operator of PRL21 and #1-Tingu with 45% interest along with Talisman Energy, 32.5%, Kina Petroleum, 15%, and Mitsubishi Corp. with 7.5%.

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