On October 22, CNOOC Limited announced a large-sized deepwater gas discovery Leopard offshore Gabon, West Africa.

The well Leopard-1 is located in license BCD10, around 145 kilometers from the Gabonese coast. The well was drilled at a total depth of 5,063 meters with a water depth of 2,110 meters, and encountered the gas pay zones in a pre-salt reservoir with net pay around 200 meters.

Shell has 75% interest of the discovery and acts as the Operator. CNOOC Limited has the other 25% interest.