State-run Oman Oil Company (OOC) is in talks with Oman's Ministry of Oil and Gas to take on an exploration block ceded by Britain's BG Group, a senior Omani oil official said on Sunday. "Oman Oil Company is in discussion with the ministry of oil and gas to take over the BG concession in Oman," Nasser al-Jashmi, undersecretary for oil and gas, told Reuters. BG pulled out of its deal to develop Oman's oil and gas Block 60 earlier this month to focus on global opportunities elsewhere. OOC is the government's energy investment arm, and holds both domestic and international oil and gas assets. The block covers an area of 1,500 square kilometres at Abu Butabul. BG had planned to start gas output from the block in 2012 and has already made substantial drilling investment there.