Final evaluation of bids is under way for exploration and production of oil and gas reserves in three western Greece blocks, Bloomberg reported.

Deputy Energy Minister Assimakis Papageorgiou reportedly said the bids were opened in mid-September, and the country received eight bids from 11 companies for oil and natural-gas reserves in the Patraikos Gulf and in Katakolo, located off the western coast, and in Ioannina, which is on the mainland’s northwest side.

Bids for Ioannina and Patraikos were made by a venture between Hellenic Petroleum SA, Edison International SpA, and Melrose Resources Plc; and bids for rights in Patraikos and Katakolo were made by a group comprising Energean Oil & Gas SA, Trajan Oil & Gas Ltd., and Schlumberger Ltd.. Grekoil Energy Ventures Ltd. also bid for Katakolo.

Energean and Schlumberger together with Petra Petroleum Inc. bid for Ioannina, according to Bloomberg. Bids for Ioannina also came jointly from Arctic Hunter Energy Inc. and K.O. Enterprises Inc. and another from Chariot Oil and Gas Ltd.