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Falklands’ Rockhopper latest well unconvincing but drilling campaign continues

Tuesday, October 11th 2011 - 08:27 UTC
Full article 76 comments
“Ocean Guardian” will begin drilling 5.9 kilometres SW of the discovery well “Ocean Guardian” will begin drilling 5.9 kilometres SW of the discovery well

Falklands’ oil explorer Rockhopper said the latest well in its controversial drilling campaign in the South Atlantic Islands has come up dry.

Rockhopper Exploration said the 14/10-8 well, designed to look for further oil at its Sea Lion complex, as well as at its Casper and Kermit prospects, found 123 metres of oil but the sands were also water-logged.

“The thickness of the reservoir encountered in the well has increased the company's confidence that good quality reservoir is likely to be present in other relatively low amplitude areas within the Sea Lion main complex,” Rockhopper said in a statement on Tuesday.

The company increased its resource estimates for the Sea Lion complex on the back of this new data, rising by 19% to 1.3 billion barrels in the mid-case.

“Whilst the 14/10-8 result is disappointing, the increase in the in-place resource in the main structure is positive for the commercial development of the field,” said analysts at Evolution Securities.

Rockhopper is trying to raise funds to support a 2 billion dollars project in the area but will need to prove there is sufficient viable oil to justify investment.

The well will now be plugged and abandoned and the Ocean Guardian rig will move to drill another well, located approximately 5.9 kilometres to the south west of the 14/10-2 discovery well, the company said.

“The well is designed to investigate reservoir presence and hydrocarbon charge within the SLMC towards the southern edge of the Company’s acreage and is also an exploration well on the Eastern side of the Casper prospect”, said the company’s release.

“The 14/10-8 well has provided us with further valuable information regarding Sea Lion although its main targets proved to be water wet. We continue to make progress in refining our view of the field’s full potential and the optimal ways to both finance and develop it” commented Chief Executive Sam Moody.

Rockhopper shares closed at 171 pence on Monday, valuing the company at around 442 million pounds (693 million dollars).
 

Financial Tags: RKH.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • JustinKuntz

    Cue the usual assholes making fatuous remarks.

    Oct 11th, 2011 - 08:36 am 0
  • Beef

    A really good update. We have found the fault and delineated the Eastern Margin of SL and the new prospects. The next drill goes West and so is the right side of the fault with good sands likely to be present. A nice rise on this news today which is pleasing but we have two more drills that should bring this appraisal programme to (or near to) completion.

    What is even better is the volumetrics are from an external company, so it looks like the planning for CPR is well under way. One or two more drills (possibly three as these are quick drills) and then get the CPR prepared in early 2012.

    Oct 11th, 2011 - 12:05 pm 0
  • Rhaurie-Craughwell

    YEEE YEEE I AM MORE CRAP URINE HOPPER YEEE YEEE MENS BOTTOMS YOUR NAME IS ROBERTO COPPPPPERWELLL BECAUSE BOTH YOUR SURNAMES END IN “WELL” YEEE YEEE AIIIIIEEE DIABLO BRITISH URINE HOPPPER JAJAJAJ LOOOK ROYAL MARINES GET STUCK IN MUD JAJAJAJA.

    Does that sum up the intellectual level of most Argentine posters Justin?

    Oct 11th, 2011 - 02:30 pm 0
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