Probably something worth remembering is that MEO put themselves...

Probably something worth remembering is that MEO put themselves in a similar position with having to commit to drilling Artemis by Dec 2009 themselves while the negotiations with Petrobras were still being done behind closed doors, I doubt Norwest would be willing to give up the block so they must have a contingency plan in motion.

Time will tell but it makes logical sense to do so in the event the farm in can not be negotiated on time, why would any company risk giving away it's assets, answer, it wouldn't.

If it did management would be in for some serious shareholder wrath.