MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Desire Petroleum presents EIA Addendum to Falklands’ government

“Ocean Guardian” should be arriving to the South Atlantic next February

Oil and gas exploration company Desire Petroleum, licensed to operate offshore the Falkland Islands announced the submission to the Falkland Islands government of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Addendum required for the planned drilling program.

Desire Petroleum, which is focused on the North Falkland basin, has plans to drill several wells this coming austral summer and an exploration rig, Ocean Guardian is currently en route from the North Sea to the South Atlantic where it is expected to arrive in February.

The update EIA includes details of the “Ocean Guardian” drilling rig.

The EIA approval is one of the last formal requirements before effectively begin drilling this summer. Desire Petroleum announced that a copy of the EIA Addendum will be posted on its website in due course.

Diamond Offshore Drilling confirmed that the length of the rig’s trip from Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth to the Falklands (62 days) could change if there was bad weather.

The tug “Maersk Traveller” is involved in the moving the 24-year-old Glasgow-built semi-submersible rig.

Under the terms of the contract between Desire Petroleum and Diamond Offshore Drilling, four wells must be completed during a minimum eighty day campaign. Desire Petroleum however has secured options to drill a further six wells for itself or its partners.

Mobilisation and demobilization fees for the rig are estimated to be 16 million USD.