A subsidiary of China National Petroleum has received a contract to expand a 3D onshore and offshore seismic survey in the United Arab Emirates to up to 85,000 square kilometers. The Abu Dhabi survey, which will collect high-resolution images and data at coastal areas, islands and shallow and deep offshore sites using cable-free equipment and other technologies, aims to identify hydrocarbon reservoirs for companies bidding on exploration blocks in an upcoming auction.

Companies will have until the end of the year to submit bids for exploring oil and natural gas blocks in the United Arab Emirates' second bidding round. Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., which started the round in May for three offshore and two onshore blocks, says it extended the deadline to give companies more time to consider forming possible consortia.

Austria-based OMV paid $1.5 billion for a 20% stake in the SARB and Umm Lulu oil concession off the coast of the UAE under a 40-year agreement signed Sunday with Abu Dhabi National Oil. The Umm Lulu field began oil production in 2016, and the SARB field is expected to start producing oil by the end of the year.

Total has signed 40-year agreements with Abu Dhabi National Oil to acquire a 20% stake in the Umm Shaif and Nasr concession and a 5% stake in the Lower Zakum prospect. The France-based company's $1.45 billion deal for the offshore sites in the UAE follows Italy-based Eni's $875 million agreement with UAE-operated ADNOC a week ago to acquire stakes in three fields.

Chinese officials are moving to provide support for National Petroleum Corp.'s bid for the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations concession in the United Arab Emirates. Adco's existing onshore oil agreement with major players -- including ExxonMobil, BP and Royal Dutch Shell -- is scheduled to expire early next year. The Chinese state-owned firm also intends to seek the rights to seven untapped blocks in western Abu Dhabi to secure its presence in the region and increase its partnership with Arabian Gulf producers.