Yemen's 'secrets' continue to elude oilmen

New oil finds in Yemen are generally becoming smaller, but oil companies remain optimistic about the potential finds there. Exploration budgets are being hit by depressed oil prices, and as the prospects of big finds decline, oil firms will have to adjust their exploration programmes gradually. Future efforts will focus on smaller finds near existing facilities, to make the exploration commercially viable. However, the current production-sharing accords with the government of Yemen could make even modest projects uneconomical.