(Business in Cameroon) - Texan Oil and Gas Company, Noble Energy, announced on 25 September 2015 that it was abandoning its Cheetah well after encountering non-commercial oil and gas reservoirs.

The well which is to be plugged by Noble Energy, was drilled to a depth of 13,320 feet and is located in the Tilapia license, a 3,875 km² block in the Douala basin, offshore Cameroon.

Following the signing of a farm-in agreement with Australian firm Woodside petroleum and Swiss group Glencore in October 2014, Noble Energy, the operating firm, acquired 46.67 % of the PSC whilst 23.3% and 30% went to the Swiss and Australian firms respectively.

After the signing of this agreement last year, Peter Coleman, Woodside’s CEO, said the Douala Basin represented an exciting opportunity with demonstrated oil prospectivity.

The Texan Oil and gas firm which also operates in West Africa, in the Mediterranean region and in the Gulf of Mexico, since the announcement about its failed experience at Cheetah, said nothing about further drilling in the Tilapia license. A truly surprising reaction considering Mr Coleman’s above-mentioned comments.