Kosmos Energy Ltd.

Company type	Public
Traded as	NYSE:  KOS LSE:  KOS Russell 1000 Component
Industry	Oil and gas
Founded	2003
Founders	James C. Musselman Brian F. Maxted W. Greg Dunlevy Paul Dailly
Headquarters	Dallas, Texas, United States
Key people	Andrew G. Inglis (chairman and CEO) Tracey Henderson (chief exploration officer) [1] [2] [3]
Products	Crude oil Natural gas
Revenue	US$902 million (2018) [4]
Net income	US$-94 million (2018) [4]
Total assets	US$4.1 billion (2018) [4]
Number of employees	380 [5]
Website	www.kosmosenergy.com

{{Infobox company
|name =Kosmos Energy Ltd.
|logo = :File:Kosmos-Energy-logo.png
|type =[[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{NYSE|KOS}}<br/>{{LSE|KOS}}<br/>[[Russell 1000 Index|Russell 1000 Component]]
|predecessor =
|industry =[[Petroleum industry|Oil and gas]]
|foundation =
|location =[[Dallas, Texas]], [[United States]]
|key_people = Andrew G. Inglis <small>(chairman and CEO)</small><br/>Tracey Henderson <small>(chief exploration officer)</small><ref name="OET270415">{{cite news |title=Kosmos Energy discovers gas offshore Mauritania |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/kosmos-energy-discovers-gas-offshore-mauritania/ |newspaper=Offshore Energy Today |date=27 April 2015 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="KosmosAbout">{{cite web |url=http://www.kosmosenergy.com/about-leadership.php |title=Leadership |publisher=Kosmos Energy |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Henderson">{{cite news |title=Henderson named Kosmos chief exploration officer |work=Oil & Gas Journal |url=https://www.ogj.com/articles/2019/02/henderson-named-kosmos-chief-exploration-officer.html |date=18 February 2019 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>
|products = Crude oil<br/>Natural gas
|assets = {{increase}} US$4.1 billion (2018)<ref name="AR2018-Revenue"/>
| num_employees = 380<ref name="AR2018-Employees">{{cite web |title=2018 Annual Report |work=Kosmos Energy |url=http://www.kosmosenergy.com/annualreport/2018/?page=54 |date=2018 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>
| founded = 2003<!-- if known: {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} in [[city]], [[state]], [[country]] -->
| founders = {{unbulleted list|James C. Musselman|Brian F. Maxted|W. Greg Dunlevy|Paul Dailly}} <!-- or: | founders = -->
| revenue = {{increase}} US$902 million (2018)<ref name="AR2018-Revenue">{{cite web |title=2018 Annual Report |work=Kosmos Energy |url=http://www.kosmosenergy.com/annualreport/2018/?page=12 |date=2018 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>
| profit = {{increase}} US$-94 million (2018)<ref name="AR2018-Revenue"/>
|homepage ={{URL|http://www.kosmosenergy.com/}}

}}

Kosmos Energy was established in 2003 by founding partners James C. Musselman, Brian F. Maxted, W. Greg Dunlevy, and Paul Dailly. ^{[1] [2]} Initial backing came from American private equity firms Warburg Pincus and The Blackstone Group. ^[3]

Kosmos made one of the world's largest recent oil discoveries in June 2007, off the coast of Ghana. ^[3] The company discovered the Jubilee Oil Field about 60 kilometres (37 mi) offshore. ^[4] The first oil from the field was produced in 2010. ^[5] The company and its operations in Ghana, around the time of the Jubilee discovery and work to develop the field, was the focus of Rachel Boynton's 2013 documentary-film Big Men. ^{[6] [7]} The documentary was shortened and adapted into a BBC television documentary Storyville: Power, Money, Greed and Oil. ^[8]

Kosmos went public under the ticker symbol KOS on the New York Stock Exchange on May 10, 2011. ^[3] The initial public offering raised more than anticipated, selling 33 million shares at $18 each. ^[3] It was listed on the London Stock Exchange on August 21, 2017. ^[9]

Kosmos and Chevron reached a deal in June 2012, where subsidiary Chevron Global Energy Inc. received a 50% working interest in Block 45 and Block 42 in Suriname, to boost operations. ^[10] In May 2016, Kosmos reached a farm-out agreement with a subsidiary of Hess Corp., wherein Hess acquired a 33% non-operated interest in Block 42 from Kosmos and Chevron. ^[11]

Kosmos began a controversial oil drilling project in the Cap Boujdour area in 2014 off the coast of the disputed territory of Western Sahara. ^[12] In an article from February 2015, former UN legal counsel Hans Corell stated that exploration activities by Kosmos and Glencore were in violation of the legal opinion he wrote for the UN Security Council. ^[13] Kosmos responded that its operations complied with international law and were consistent with the UN opinion. ^{[12] [14]} Kosmos officials also told media it recognized that its work in the area must occur alongside UN-led mediation. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

The company said local populations in Western Sahara would benefit from the economic development of the region. ^{[14] [15]} A Kosmos official told Reuters, "If we are successful, we believe responsible resource development has the potential to create significant social and economic benefits for Western Sahara and its people. We have worked in close partnership with Morocco — as the de facto administering power of the territory. They have a vital role to play in ensuring benefit sharing, among other important issues, will happen should we be successful". ^[14]

In 2016, Norway's Council on Ethics recommended that the country's Government Pension Fund Global exclude Kosmos Energy and Cairn Energy Plc. from its investment portfolio due to their activities in Western Sahara. In June 2016, the Financial Times quoted Kosmos correspondence with the Council on Ethics: "We fundamentally disagree with the council's assessment of our activities offshore Western Sahara, where we have spent considerable time on the ground working with local people to understand their views of oil and gas exploration. The council's decision fails to recognize that people in Western Sahara—whom we have met in hundreds of face-to-face conversations—want the economic opportunities that come from increased foreign investment." ^[12] Later, in February 2018, Kosmos announced its withdrawal from Morocco and Western Sahara, marking the end of 17 years of companies in the oil sector there. ^[17]

Kosmos made two significant gas discoveries offshore Mauritania in 2015. Kosmos discovered gas at its Tortue-1 exploration well in Block C-8 in April 2015, followed by another gas discovery in its Marsouin-1 exploration well, which was later renamed Bir Allah, ^[18] in the northern part of Block C-8. ^{[19] [20] [21]} A few kilometers south of Tortue-1, Kosmos Energy discovered gas at its Guembeul-1 exploration well offshore Senegal in January 2016. ^{[21] [22]}

The company continued to make gas discoveries in 2016 and 2017, including significant natural gas resources at the Teranga-1 exploration well offshore Senegal in 2016. ^{[23] [24]} In December 2016, Kosmos and BP entered a partnership in Mauritania and Senegal. ^{[25] [26]} BP acquired a 62% working interest, including operatorship, of Kosmos' exploration blocks in Mauritania and a 32.49% effective working interest in Kosmos' Senegal exploration blocks. ^[25] The chain of ownership through which BP acquired the blocks was examined in a BBC Panorama documentary in June 2019. ^[27] The programme alleged corruption in dealings over the blocks before they were acquired by Kosmos, resulting in allegedly disproportionate royalties paid by BP to businessman Frank Timis. Both Kosmos and BP deny wrongdoing. ^{[27] [28] [29]}

In May 2017, the two companies made a major discovery off the coast of Senegal while drilling the Yakaar-1 exploration well. ^[23]

Senegal and Mauritania signed a cooperation agreement to allow for Kosmos and BP to develop gas resources shared by the two counties in February 2018. ^[30] BP and Kosmos made a final investment decision on the Tortue project in December 2018, leading to the first phase of the Tortue LNG development. ^[31]

Kosmos Energy acquired Deep Gulf Energy from a private equity owner for $1.23 billion, expanding Kosmos' oil and gas operations into the Gulf of Mexico, in August 2018. ^{[32] [33]} In December 2018, Kosmos was reincorporated in Delaware. ^[34] Previously, it was incorporated in Bermuda. ^[35]

Kosmos Energy was established in 2003 by founding partners James C. Musselman, Brian F. Maxted, W. Greg Dunlevy, and Paul Dailly.<ref name="DallasBiz03012011">{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2011/01/03/kosmos-energy-ceo-co-founder-retires.html |title=Kosmos CEO, co-founder retires |date=3 January 2011 | work =[[American City Business Journals|Dallas Business Journal]] |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Bounds14">{{cite news |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-ceo/2014/july-august/entrepreneurs-of-the-year-ey-2014/ |title=Entrepreneurs of the year 2014 |author=Jeff Bounds |author2=Karen Nielsen |author3=Christine Perez |author4=Glenda Vosburgh |date=July 2014 |publisher=D Magazine |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> Initial backing came from American private equity firms [[Warburg Pincus]] and [[The Blackstone Group]].<ref name="Selyukh11">{{cite news |title=Kosmos Energy IPO raises more than expected |last1=Selyukh |first1=Alina |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/kosmosenergy-ipo-idUSN1015130520110511 |newspaper=Reuters |date=10 May 2011 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref>

Kosmos made one of the world's largest recent oil discoveries in June 2007, off the coast of Ghana.<ref name="Selyukh11"/> The company discovered the Jubilee Oil Field about {{convert|60|km}} offshore.<ref name="OT-Jubilee">{{cite web |url=http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/jubilee-field/ |title=Jubilee Field, Ghana | work = Offshore Technology |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> The first oil from the field was produced in 2010.<ref name="Aklorbortu17">{{cite web |url=http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/10yrs-after-oil-discovery-time-to-take-stock-kosmos-energy.html |title=10 years after oil discovery, time to take stock |author=Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu |date=27 February 2017 |publisher=Graphic Online |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> The company and its operations in Ghana, around the time of the Jubilee discovery and work to develop the field, was the focus of Rachel Boynton's 2013 [[documentary]]-film ''[[Big Men (film)|Big Men]]''.<ref name="Catsoulis14">{{cite news |title=Oil and money, and where it flows |last1=Catsoulis |first1=Jeannette |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/movies/big-men-looks-at-ghanaian-oil-discovery.html?_r=0 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=13 March 2014 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Dansby14">{{cite news |title='Big Men' is a remarkable documentary on international oil business |last1=Dansby |first1=Andrew |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/movies/article/Big-Men-a-remarkable-documentary-on-5525475.php |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=3 June 2014 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> The documentary was shortened and adapted into a [[BBC]] television documentary ''Storyville: Power, Money, Greed and Oil''.<ref name="Storyville">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b033v5xz |title=Power, Money, Greed & Oil |publisher=[[BBC]] |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref>

Kosmos went [[public company|public]] under the ticker symbol KOS on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] on May 10, 2011.<ref name="Selyukh11"/> The [[initial public offering]] raised more than anticipated, selling 33 million shares at $18 each.<ref name="Selyukh11"/> It was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] on August 21, 2017.<ref name="LSE">{{cite press release | url = https://www.lseg.com/resources/media-centre/press-releases/kosmos-energy-lists-london-stock-exchange | title = Kosmos Energy lists on London Stock Exchange | publisher = Kosmos Energy | via = London Stock Exchange | date = 21 August 2017 | accessdate = 18 October 2017}}</ref>

Kosmos and [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] reached a deal in June 2012, where subsidiary Chevron Global Energy Inc. received a 50% working interest in Block 45 and Block 42 in Suriname, to boost operations.<ref name="OET20062012">{{cite news |url=http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/chevron-acquires-offshore-suriname-acreage/ |title=Chevron acquires offshore Suriname acreage |date=20 June 2012 |publisher=OffshoreEnergyToday.com |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> In May 2016, Kosmos reached a farm-out agreement with a subsidiary of [[Hess Corp.]], wherein Hess acquired a 33% non-operated interest in Block 42 from Kosmos and Chevron.<ref name="OffshoreMag04052016">{{cite news |url=http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/2016/05/hess-farms-into-block-42-offshore-suriname.html |title=Hess farms into block 42 offshore Suriname |date=4 May 2016 |publisher=Offshore-Mag.com |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref>

Kosmos began a controversial oil drilling project in the [[Cap Boujdour]] area in 2014 off the coast of the disputed territory of Western Sahara.<ref name="Milne16">{{cite news |title=Norway oil fund drops investment in Cairn and Kosmos |last1=Milne |first1=Richard |last2=Stacey |first2=Kiran |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3ed3be5a-3d19-11e6-8716-a4a71e8140b0?mhq5j=e1 |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |date=28 June 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2017 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In an article from February 2015, former UN legal counsel Hans Corell stated that exploration activities by Kosmos and [[Glencore]] were in violation of the legal opinion he wrote for the UN Security Council.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Responsibility of the UN Security Council in the Case of Western Sahara|url=http://www.judicialmonitor.org/current/specialcommentary.html |accessdate=29 March 2015|publisher= International Judicial Academy}}</ref> Kosmos responded that its operations complied with international law and were consistent with the UN opinion.<ref name="Milne16"/><ref name="Noueihed14">{{cite news |title=Simmering Saharan conflict stirred by offshore oil search |last1=Noueihed |first1=Lin |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/westernsahara-oil-idUSL6N0KN1I120140113 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=13 January 2014 |accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref> Kosmos officials also told media it recognized that its work in the area must occur alongside UN-led mediation.<ref name="Noueihed14"/><ref name="Liljas14">{{cite news |title=There's a New Terrorist Threat Emerging in Western Sahara, and the World Isn't Paying Attention |last1=Liljas |first1=Per |url=http://time.com/3085464/theres-a-new-terror-threat-emerging-in-western-sahara-and-the-world-isnt-paying-attention/ |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=8 August 2014 |accessdate=20 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Landers13">{{cite news |title=A Dallas company could help diplomacy by finding oil in Western Sahara |last1=Landers |first1=Jim |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/health-care/2013/12/02/a-dallas-company-could-help-diplomacy-by-finding-oil-in-western-sahara |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=December 2013 |accessdate=20 July 2017}}</ref>

The company said local populations in Western Sahara would benefit from the economic development of the region.<ref name="Noueihed14"/><ref name="Liljas14"/> A Kosmos official told ''Reuters'', "If we are successful, we believe responsible resource development has the potential to create significant social and economic benefits for Western Sahara and its people. We have worked in close partnership with Morocco — as the ''de facto'' administering power of the territory. They have a vital role to play in ensuring benefit sharing, among other important issues, will happen should we be successful".<ref name="Noueihed14"/>

In 2016, [[Norway]]'s [[Government Pension Fund of Norway#The Ethical Council|Council on Ethics]] recommended that the country's Government Pension Fund Global exclude Kosmos Energy and [[Cairn Energy|Cairn Energy Plc.]] from its investment portfolio due to their activities in Western Sahara. In June 2016, the ''Financial Times'' quoted Kosmos correspondence with the Council on Ethics: "We fundamentally disagree with the council's assessment of our activities offshore Western Sahara, where we have spent considerable time on the ground working with local people to understand their views of oil and gas exploration. The council's decision fails to recognize that people in Western Sahara—whom we have met in hundreds of face-to-face conversations—want the economic opportunities that come from increased foreign investment."<ref name="Milne16"/> Later, in February 2018, Kosmos announced its withdrawal from Morocco and Western Sahara, marking the end of 17 years of companies in the oil sector there.<ref name="WSRW18">{{cite news |title=Kosmos and Cairn have pulled out of Western Sahara |work=Western Sahara Resource Watch |url=https://www.wsrw.org/a249x4080 |date=7 February 2018 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>

Kosmos made two significant gas discoveries offshore [[Mauritania]] in 2015. Kosmos discovered gas at its Tortue-1 exploration well in Block C-8 in April 2015, followed by another gas discovery in its Marsouin-1 exploration well, which was later renamed Bir Allah,<ref name=O'Cinneide18">{{cite news |title=Kosmos and BP gear up for campaign off Mauritania and Senegal |last1=O'Cinneide |first1=Eoin |work=Upstream |url=https://static.upstreamonline.com/hardcopy/1628327/kosmos-and-bp-gear-up-for-campaign-off-mauritania-and-senegal |date=15 November 2018 |accessdate=15 October 2019}}</ref> in the northern part of Block C-8.<ref name="OET270415"/><ref name=OGJ12112015"">{{cite news |title=Kosmos makes second gas discovery offshore Mauritania |url=http://www.ogj.com/articles/2015/11/kosmos-makes-second-gas-discovery-offshore-mauritania.html |newspaper=[[Oil & Gas Journal]] |date=12 November 2015 |accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="OT16032016">{{cite news |url=http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/kosmos-delineates-gas-discoveries-off-mauritania-and-senegal/ |title=Kosmos delineates gas discoveries off Mauritania and Senegal |date=16 March 2016 |publisher=OffshoreEnergyToday.com |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> A few kilometers south of Tortue-1, Kosmos Energy discovered gas at its Guembeul-1 exploration well offshore [[Senegal]] in January 2016.<ref name="OT16032016"/><ref name="Addison16">{{cite news |title=Exploration continues: Kosmos strikes gas offshore Senegal |last1=Addison |first1=Velda |url=http://www.epmag.com/exploration-continues-kosmos-strikes-gas-offshore-senegal-836586#p=full |newspaper=[[Hart Energy]] |date=27 January 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref>

The company continued to make gas discoveries in 2016 and 2017, including significant natural gas resources at the Teranga-1 exploration well offshore Senegal in 2016.<ref name="Ward17">{{cite news |title=BP and Kosmos strike gas again off Senegal |last1=Ward |first1=Andrew |url=https://www.ft.com/content/091c4a94-33e4-11e7-99bd-13beb0903fa3?mhq5j=e1 |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |date=8 May 2017 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Pedigo16">{{cite news |title=Kosmos' Ternaga-1 well encounters gas offshore Senegal |last1=Pedigo |first1=Eric |url=http://www.epmag.com/kosmos-teranga-1-well-encounters-gas-offshore-senegal-847856 |newspaper=Hart Energy |date=9 May 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> In December 2016, Kosmos and [[BP]] entered a partnership in Mauritania and Senegal.<ref name="OET19122016"/><ref name="Burkhardt16">{{cite news |title=BP builds gas empire with $916 million purchase from Kosmos |last1=Burkhardt |first1=Paul |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-19/bp-to-acquire-stakes-in-west-africa-licenses-from-kosmos-energy |newspaper=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |date=19 December 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> BP acquired a 62% working interest, including operatorship, of Kosmos' exploration blocks in Mauritania and a 32.49% effective working interest in Kosmos' Senegal exploration blocks.<ref name="OET19122016"/> The chain of ownership through which BP acquired the blocks was examined in a [[BBC Panorama]] documentary in June 2019.<ref name="BBC-Panorama">{{cite news |title=The $10 Billion Energy Scandal |work=[[BBC Panorama]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0005q26 |date=3 June 2019 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref> The programme alleged corruption in dealings over the blocks before they were acquired by Kosmos, resulting in allegedly disproportionate royalties paid by BP to businessman [[Frank Timis]]. Both Kosmos and BP deny wrongdoing.<ref name="BBC-Panorama"/><ref name="BBC-Senegal1">{{cite news |title=Senegal's Macky Sall denies BBC's corruption report against brother |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48540075 |date=6 June 2019 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="KosmosResponse">{{cite web |title=Kosmos Responds to BBC Panorama |work=Kosmos Energy |url=https://www.kosmosenergy.com/latest-news/response-to-bbc-panorama/ |date=6 June 2019 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>

In May 2017, the two companies made a major discovery off the coast of Senegal while drilling the Yakaar-1 exploration well.<ref name="Ward17"/>

Senegal and Mauritania signed a cooperation agreement to allow for Kosmos and BP to develop gas resources shared by the two counties in February 2018.<ref name="Bavier18">{{cite news |title=Senegal, Mauritania agree to cooperate on giant offshore gas field |last1=Bavier |first1=Joe |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/senegal-mauritania-gas/senegal-mauritania-agree-to-cooperate-on-giant-offshore-gas-field-idUSL8N1PZ6OY |date=9 February 2018 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref> BP and Kosmos made a final investment decision on the Tortue project in December 2018, leading to the first phase of the Tortue LNG development.<ref name=Tortue-Go">{{cite news |title=BP gives go-ahead to Tortue investment in Africa LNG push |work=Gulf Times |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/617654/BP-gives-go-ahead-to-Tortue-investment-in-Africa-L |date=27 December 2018 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>

Kosmos Energy acquired Deep Gulf Energy from a private equity owner for $1.23 billion, expanding Kosmos' oil and gas operations into the [[Gulf of Mexico]], in August 2018.<ref name="French18">{{cite news |title=Kosmos Energy expands into Gulf of Mexico with $1.23 billion DGE buy |last1=French |first1=David |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-dge-m-a-kosmos-energy/kosmos-energy-expands-into-gulf-of-mexico-with-1-23-billion-dge-buy-idUKKBN1KR0J4 |date=6 August 2018 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="TOGY18">{{cite news |title=Kosmos in Gulf of Mexico acquisition |work=The Oil & Gas Year |url=https://www.theoilandgasyear.com/news/kosmos-in-gulf-of-mexico-acquisition/ |date=18 September 2018 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref> In December 2018, Kosmos was reincorporated in [[Delaware Corporation|Delaware]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1509991/000150999119000063/kos-12312018x10k.htm|title=2018 Form 10-K|last=|first=|date=2018-12-31|website=Securities and Exchange Commission|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> Previously, it was incorporated in [[Bermuda]].<ref name="10K2016P-1">{{cite web|url=http://www.kosmosenergy.com/annualreport/2016/?page=8|title=2016 Form 10-K|last=|first=|date=|work=2016|publisher=Kosmos Energy|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=11 July 2017}}</ref>

Kosmos operates in the Cayar and St. Louis blocks offshore Senegal. ^[1] It holds a 32.51% interest in each of its two exploration licenses. ^[2] In Mauritania, Kosmos holds 28% stakes in four blocks. ^[3] It made a significant gas discovery at its Tortue-1 well in Block C-8, offshore Mauritania, in April 2015. ^[4] The well was drilled to test the Tortue West prospect, forming a part of the Greater Tortue complex. ^[4] Its next discovery offshore came at Kosmos' Marsouin-1 exploration well, later renamed Bir Allah, in the northern part of Block C-8. ^[5] With results from its Ahmeyim-2 appraisal well, Kosmos estimated the Tortue West contains 15 trillion cubic feet (420 billion cubic metres) of gas, and the Greater Tortue Complex contains more than 20 trillion cubic feet (570 billion cubic metres). ^[6] Company officials said this discovery confirmed that the Tortue gas resource, which is also called Ahmeyim, straddles the maritime boundary between Senegal and Mauritania. ^[7] At the end of 2018, Kosmos Energy announced a final investment decision for phase 1 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG Project alongside BP. ^{[8] [9]} In October 2019, Kosmos made a major gas discovery at its Orca-1 exploration well offshore Mauritania. The company estimated the total gas available as 50 trillion cubic feet of gas. ^[10]

Kosmos and BP have a farm-out agreement over the joint gas discovery in Mauritania and Senegal, as well as future exploration. ^[11] Under the deal, Kosmos focuses on exploration, while BP controls development and production operations. ^{[12] [13]} The two companies have discovered an estimated 15 trillion cubic feet (420 billion cubic metres) of gross Pmean gas resource at the Yakaar-1 exploration well. ^[14] At the end of 2018, Kosmos Energy announced a final investment decision for phase 1 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG Project alongside BP. ^{[8] [9]} In September 2019, Kosmos Energy confirmed gas resources at the Yakaar-2 appraisal well. ^[15]

Kosmos operates in the Cayar and St. Louis blocks offshore Senegal.<ref name="Ba14">{{cite news |title=Kosmos to buy into Senegal offshore blocks for $400 mln |last1=Ba |first1=Diadie |last2=Feliz |first2=Bate |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/senegal-oil-kosmos-energy-idUSL6N0RZ0QY20141004 |newspaper=[[Reuters]] |date=4 October 2014 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> It holds a 32.51% interest in each of its two exploration licenses.<ref name="LNGWorldNews">{{cite news |title=BP joins Kosmos to develop West Africa LNG export project |url=http://www.lngworldnews.com/bp-joins-kosmos-to-develop-west-africa-lng-export-project/ |newspaper=LNG World News |date=19 December 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> In Mauritania, Kosmos holds 28% stakes in four blocks.<ref name="10K2016-P18">{{cite web |url=http://www.kosmosenergy.com/annualreport/2016/?page=26 |title=2016 Form 10-K |date=2016 |page=18 |publisher=Kosmos Energy |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> It made a significant gas discovery at its Tortue-1 well in Block C-8, offshore Mauritania, in April 2015.<ref name="OET270415"/> The well was drilled to test the Tortue West prospect, forming a part of the Greater Tortue complex.<ref name="OET270415"/> Its next discovery offshore came at Kosmos' Marsouin-1 exploration well, later renamed Bir Allah, in the northern part of Block C-8.<ref name="OET12112015">{{cite news |url=http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/kosmos-hits-gas-offshore-mauritania/ |title=Kosmos in second gas discovery offshore Mauritania |date=12 November 2015 |publisher=OffshoreEnergyToday.com |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> With results from its Ahmeyim-2 appraisal well, Kosmos estimated the Tortue West contains {{convert|15|e12cuft|abbr=off}} of gas, and the Greater Tortue Complex contains more than {{convert|20|e12cuft|abbr=off}}.<ref name="Rigzone16032016">{{cite news |title=Kosmos hits gas at Ahmeyim-2, increases Tortue resourced estimates |url=http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/143567/kosmos_hits_gas_at_ahmeyim2_increases_tortue_resources_estimates |newspaper=Rigzone |date=16 March 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> Company officials said this discovery confirmed that the Tortue gas resource, which is also called Ahmeyim, straddles the maritime boundary between Senegal and Mauritania.<ref name="Addison16"/> At the end of 2018, Kosmos Energy announced a final investment decision for phase 1 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG Project alongside BP.<ref name="Tortue-Go"/><ref name="Tortue-FID">{{cite news |title=BP sanctions Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project |work=LNG World News |url=https://www.lngworldnews.com/bp-sanctions-greater-tortue-ahmeyim-lng-project/ |date=21 December 2019 |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref> In October 2019, Kosmos made a major gas discovery at its Orca-1 exploration well offshore Mauritania. The company estimated the total gas available as 50 trillion cubic feet of gas.<ref name="McAllister19">{{cite news |title=Kosmos Energy makes major gas discovery off Mauritania |last1=McAllister |first1=Edward |last2=Pujol-Mazzini |first2=Anna |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mauritania-kosmos-energy/kosmos-energy-makes-major-gas-discovery-off-mauritania-idUSKBN1X717L |date=28 October 2019 |accessdate=2 December 2019}}</ref>

Kosmos and BP have a [[farm-out agreement]] over the joint gas discovery in Mauritania and Senegal, as well as future exploration.<ref name="OET19122016">{{cite news |url=http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/bp-teaming-up-with-kosmos-in-mauritania-and-senegal/ |title=BP teaming up with Kosmos in Mauritania and Senegal |date=19 December 2016 |publisher=OffshoreEnergyToday.com |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> Under the deal, Kosmos focuses on exploration, while BP controls development and production operations.<ref name="Ward17"/><ref name="Burkhardt16"/> The two companies have discovered an estimated {{convert|15|e12cuft|abbr=off}} of gross Pmean gas resource at the Yakaar-1 exploration well.<ref name="OET08052017">{{cite news |url=http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/kosmos-hits-major-gas-discovery-off-senegal/ |title=Kosmos hits ‘major’ gas discovery off Senegal |date=8 May 2017 |publisher=OffshoreEnergyToday.com |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> At the end of 2018, Kosmos Energy announced a final investment decision for phase 1 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG Project alongside BP.<ref name="Tortue-Go"/><ref name="Tortue-FID"/> In September 2019, Kosmos Energy confirmed gas resources at the Yakaar-2 appraisal well.<ref name="Yakaar2">{{cite news |title=Kosmos Energy confirms gas at Yakaar-2 appraisal well offshore Senegal |work=Offshore Technology |url=https://www.offshore-technology.com/news/kosmos-energy-yakaar-2/ |date=23 September 2019 |accessdate=1 October 2019}}</ref>

In October 2017, Kosmos entered a 50:50 joint venture with Trident Energy to acquire Hess Corporation's interest in the Ceiba Field and Okume Complex assets offshore Equatorial Guinea. ^[16] Kosmos also has interests in exploration blocks offshore Equatorial Guinea. ^{[17] [18] [19]} In November 2019, Kosmos announced an oil discovery at its S-5 well offshore of Equatorial Guinea. ^[20]

In October 2017, Kosmos entered a 50:50 joint venture with Trident Energy to acquire [[Hess Corporation]]'s interest in the Ceiba Field and Okume Complex assets offshore [[Equatorial Guinea]].<ref name="Barbee17">{{cite news |title=Hess' offshore deals haul in $2.6 billion; free cash for Bakken, Guyana |last1=Barbee |first1=Darren |url=https://www.oilandgasinvestor.com/hess-offshore-deals-haul-26-billion-free-cash-bakken-guyana-1664941#p=full |newspaper=Oil and Gas Investor |date=24 October 2017 |accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref> Kosmos also has interests in exploration blocks offshore Equatorial Guinea.<ref name="Roelf17">{{cite news |title=Equatorial Guinea signs contract with Kosmos Energy for offshore blocks |last1=Roelf |first1=Wendell |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/africa-oil-kosmos/update-1-equatorial-guinea-signs-contract-with-kosmos-energy-for-offshore-blocks-idUSL8N1MY1RM |newspaper=[[Reuters]] |date=23 October 2017 |accessdate=7 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="WorldOil23Oct17">{{cite news |title=Kosmos Energy picks up assets in Equatorial Guinea as Hess exits |url=http://www.worldoil.com/news/2017/10/23/kosmos-energy-picks-up-assets-in-equatorial-guinea-as-hess-exits |newspaper=World Oil |date=23 October 2017 |accessdate=7 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Kool17">{{cite news |title=Oil prices rise ahead of inventory data |last1=Kool |first1=Tom |url=https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Oil-Prices-Rise-Ahead-Of-Inventory-Data.html |newspaper=OilPrice.com |date=24 October 2017 |accessdate=7 November 2017}}</ref> In November 2019, Kosmos announced an oil discovery at its S-5 well offshore of Equatorial Guinea.<ref name="Roelf19">{{cite news |title=Kosmos Energy finds oil off Equatorial Guinea: oil ministry |last1=Roelf |first1=Wendell |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-equatorialguinea-kosmos/kosmos-energy-finds-oil-off-equatorial-guinea-oil-ministry-idUSKBN1XD0GY |date=3 November 2019 |accessdate=2 December 2019}}</ref>