1.   Although the Chinese have had some successes on their own exploration blocks, nothing the Western drillers have tried here has paid off.

2.   The company owns all rights to the exploration blocks.

3.   Union Pacific Resources owns all rights to the exploration blocks.

4.   Petronas has already done a feasibility study in Sudan, and was not satisfied with exploration blocks already on offer.

5.   A total of nine exploration blocks in the Andaman Sea are up for grabs, the newspaper added.

6.   Esso Production has also acquired two exploration blocks in Sabah, Dingle said.

7.   Irving, Texas-based Exxon also is involved in a project involving two other exploration blocks off Sakhalin Island, adjacent to the discovered fields.

8.   Statoil is handling drilling at four exploration blocks off Nigeria on behalf of its partners.

9.   Statoil is handling drilling operation at four exploration blocks off Nigeria on behalf of its partners.

10.   The Mertvyi Kultuk exploration block is just south of the Tengiz field on the northeastern shore of the Caspian Sea.