The first significant oil discovery outside the proven petroleum province of offshore Northwest Palawan was made with the drilling by PNOC EC of the Maniguin-2 well on the island of Maniguin in 1994.

This well flowed sub-commercial quantities of oil and proved the existence of a valid petroleum system in the area. The highly encouraging results of the Maniguin drilling have prompted PNOC EC to pursue additional evaluation studies, including the acquisition of 2D and 3D seismic data, to better understand the area’s petroleum potential. Two prospects, Kamia and Molave, have been mapped, evaluated and matured for drilling. SC-47, covering an area 14,667 square kilometers, was signed on January 10, 2005 by and between the DOE and partners, PNOC EC and Petronas Carigali. Subsequently, the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) was signed in June 2005.

Petronas Carigali now holds 80% stake as operator while PNOC EC has 19.4% participating interest, PetroEneryg Resources with 0.4% and Basic Energy with 0.2%. A Sea Bed Logging survey was conducted within the acreage in June 2006 in preparation for the drilling activities. Kamia-1 well was drilled in September 2007 with minor oil and gas shows. Post-well evaluation studies have been carried out. Basin re-evaluation is on-going. .