MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkand Islands: Seismic contractor moves in on unlicensed acreage

The Ocean Guardian oil rig

AS the Ocean Guardian oil rig is scheduled to arrive in Falklands waters next week, a UK-registered start-up seismic contractor is aiming to carry out a speculative 6,000km multi-client 2D shoot on unlicensed acreage in Falklands waters.

Spec Partners hope to start the survey this quarter using the Nautic Naiad vessel, owned by Oslo-based Nautic Offshore. However, timing is uncertain.

Mr Roberts told Upstream reporter Rob Watts timing should be firmed up in the next few days: “There is an opportunity there and we want to take it,” Mr Roberts said. The survey would take place in an area covering about 60 blocks in the North Falklands basin, immediately north of where the bulk of this year’s exploration will take place. If it gets the go-ahead, the survey would last about three months, with processing taking a further three months.

A second application was also made for a survey for a company with existing acreage in the Falklands. Director of Mineral Resources Phyl Rendell would notreveal which companies had lodged applications, saying they were still at a very early stage.

However, Upstream’s industry sources said they understood the second application was by Nautic Offshore for the Naiad to carry out a site survey on Desire Petroleum’s acreage while it was still in the area.

Desire Petroleum was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile the Environmental Impact Statement Addendum submitted by BHP Billiton Petroleum (Falklands) Corporation to drill one well within licence PL015 has been described by the Environmental Planning Office as a “well written document which addresses the issues raised by SAMS” (Scottish Association for Marine Science). (Penguin News)