Sept 13 (Reuters) - Suriname state-oil company

Staatsolie on Friday said it signed production sharing contracts

with PetroChina for two offshore oil and gas blocks

in the South American country.

By signing the contracts, PetroChina has exploration and

development rights for shallow water blocks 14 and 15 where

Staatsolie has a 30% participation. The blocks were part of a

bidding round launched last year.

The blocks are in the eastern part of the Suriname-Guyana

basin and border Block 52, where Malaysia's Petronas and U.S.

oil giant Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) previously disclosed oil and gas

discoveries. Block 14 has water depths of 50 to 75 meters and

Block 15 from 75 to 150 meters.

With the two newest production sharing contracts, about

46% of Suriname's offshore area is now under contract,

Staatsolie said.