Success in offshore discoveries in Angola has led to increased interest in Angolas exploration blocks. On December 13, 2005 a new licensing round on seven blocks was opened. The blocks open to bid include: 1, 5 and 6 in the shallow-water (band A) zone and 15, 17, 18 and 26 in the deepwater zone (band B). To date, the most prolific Oil producing blocks have been those in the deepwater zone. In September 2002, Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) signed a four-year PSA with Sonangol to explore for oil in the deep waters of Block 16, 72 miles off the Angolan coast. In December 2003, CNR announced that its Zenza-1 Well encountered shows of Hydrocarbons, but they were not of sufficient amounts to be commercial. In early 2005, CNR sold its stake in Block 16 to Denmarks Maersk Oil, which is joined with partners Sonangol (20 percent), Devon Energy (15 percent) and Brazils Odebrecht (15 percent). To date, no significant oil reserves have been located in Block 16. In addition to the Girassol and Jasmin finds, several other significant discoveries have been made on deepwater Block 17. In the eastern section of the block, Totals Acacia find tested at a combined 13,712 bbl/d of oil from two separate zones, and Hortensia tested at 5,092 bbl/d of oil. In August 2004, Sonangol approved Totals request to award contracts to develop the Rosa Field on Block 17. Development will include the construction of 25 subsea wells tied back to the Girassol FPSO. Production at Rosa is expected to begin in early 2007 at an initial rate of 70,000 bbl/d. Proposed modifications to the FPSO are expected to increase production to 250,000 bbl/d. In October 2004, Italian firm Saipem SpA was awarded a $440 million contract to build a subsea Pipeline connecting offshore Rosa with onshore facilities near Luanda. In February 2004, Sonangol approved BPs plans to develop the Greater Plutonio project in Block 18. Five fields (Colbalto, Cromio, Galio, Paladio, Platina, and Plutonio) will be developed using a single FPSO. Scheduled to come online in 2007, the Greater Plutonio project is expected to produce over 200,000 bbl/d. Total cost of the project is estimated at between $2 and $3 billion. In June 2004, FMC Technologies was awarded a $27 million contract for the provision of services at the Plutonio project. Three months later, BP announced an additional $80 million contract with FMC for the supply of subsea systems. Two additional discoveries on the block are BPs Chumbo-1 and Cesio-1 wells. BP maintains a 50 percent interest as the Operator of Block 18 and Sinopec owns the other 50 percent share. Although Indias ONGC Videsh signed an agreement with Shell to buy a 50 percent stake in Block 18 in April 2004, Sonangol refused to approve the purchase. Instead, Sonangol accepted a bid coupled with a $2 billion aid offer from China in October 2004. In February 2003, Devon Energy acquired a 25 percent stake in Block 24 from ExxonMobil. This acquisition increased Devon Energys total share of the block to 40 percent, making the company the operator of the block. ExxonMobil retains a 20 percent share. Sonangol and Malaysias Petronas are also partners on the block. ExxonMobil reported the first oil discovery on the block in June 2001, but later declared the Semba-1 well, which had a flow rate in excess of 3,000 bbl/d, to be noncommercial. In 2005, five new discoveries were made on Block 31, which brings the total of discovered wells on the block to nine. All nine wells have tested at significant flow rates, with the eighth well, Astraea-1, testing at the highest flow rate of 6,500 bbl/d. The block is located 118 miles off the Angolan coast. BP, as the operator of the block is still exploring development options. Other stakeholders in the block include ExxonMobil, Sonangol, Statoil, Marathon, and Total. Totals first exploration well on Block 32 was a success. Gindungo, which lies 40 miles from Block 17s Girassol find, tested at rates of 7,400 bbl/d and 5,700 bbl/d in two zones. In April 2004, Total announced a new Block 32 discovery, Canela-1, from which a test Reservoir produced 6,800 bbl/d. Sonangol and Total announced an additional oil discovery at OECanela-1 in June 2004. The find produced a test flow of 6,800 barrels per day from a lone reservoir. Total, as operator of the block, is joined with partners Marathon Oil, Sonangol and ExxonMobil.