Sonatrach CEO Noureddine Daoudi met with Occidental Petroleum CEO Richard Jackson in Houston, USA, on 16 October 2026 to discuss expansion plans for the Berkine Basin. This meeting served as the conclusion of a five-day diplomatic and business visit to the United States by the Sonatrach delegation. Company representatives traveled to the country between 12 October and 16 October 2026 to conduct these talks. The discussions focused on potential operational growth within the region. The delegation’s presence in the United States from October 12 to October 16, 2026, facilitated a series of high-level engagements centered on the future of their joint energy interests.
Existing Partnership and History
Sonatrach and Occidental Petroleum established their current framework for collaboration in 2022. During that year, the two companies signed a hydrocarbon contract covering blocks 404 and 208. Eni and TotalEnergies participated as partners in this agreement, which set the foundation for operations in those specific sectors of the Berkine Basin. This 2022 agreement remains a cornerstone of the ongoing relationship between the four entities, establishing the contractual parameters for their shared work in the specific blocks mentioned.
Building on that agreement, Sonatrach and Occidental Petroleum signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2024. This document formalised the intent of both companies to cooperate regarding exploration and evaluation activities specifically situated in the central Berkine area. The 2024 memorandum of understanding provided a structured roadmap for the companies to assess the viability and resource potential of the central Berkine territory, further deepening the ties established by the previous 2022 contract.
Technical cooperation formed a primary subject of the recent discussions between Noureddine Daoudi and Richard Jackson. The talks addressed the development of unconventional resources to improve output efficiency. Both leaders also examined the implementation of non-metallic pipes as part of their operational growth strategy for the region. These discussions focused on technical cooperation, including the development of unconventional resources and the use of non-metallic pipes, as both companies look toward long-term field development.
The dialogue in Houston allowed Noureddine Daoudi and Richard Jackson to review the progress made since the signing of the October 2024 memorandum of understanding. By prioritizing unconventional resource development, the leadership teams aim to leverage modern extraction techniques to maximize the output of their existing assets. The inclusion of non-metallic pipes in their operational growth strategy represents a shift toward modernizing infrastructure within the Berkine Basin. As the delegation concluded their visit on 16 October 2026, the focus remained on integrating these technical advancements into the existing framework shared by Sonatrach, Occidental Petroleum, Eni, and TotalEnergies. The alignment of these corporate strategies is intended to ensure sustained production levels and operational efficiency across the designated blocks in the Berkine Basin.