In August 2003, Canadas Calvalley Petroleum announced the discovery of four Oil bearing wells in the Roidhat field in the Malik Block (9). Calvalley has yet to determine if the oil find is of commercial quality. In August 2005, Yemens Oil Ministry granted a License to Calvalley, Reliance Industries (India) and Hoodoil (Yemen) to develop Block 9 through 2025.
Nexen continues to explore Block 51, adjacent to their Masila fields and Totals East Shabwa. In June 2004, the Yemeni government offered newly demarcated Blocks 69-74 up for bid (Blocks 69-70 are in the Sabatain Basin, Blocks 71-74 are located in the Masila/ Shabwa Basins). In the same month, a consortium including Norways DNO and Canadas TransGlobal Energy was awarded exploration rights to Block 72. The oil concession encompasses 703 square miles and is located next to Nexens holdings. Chinas Sinopec was awarded rights to explore blocks 69 and 71, while Dove Energy acquired Block 73. Blocks 70 and 74 are yet to receive bids.
In July 2005, Norways DNO ASA announced that its Nabrajah Field had begun production. This is DNOs third Yemen oilfield development since the company entered the country in 1998. In August 2005, OMV announced that it made a third oil discovery in the Al-Uglah area (Block S2) of the Shabwah Basin. OMV also is slated to conduct exploration work in Block 2, located near Block S2.