MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' 2015 oil drilling program to include Borders & Southern

“Our objective is to reach a conclusion so that we can participate in the 2015 Falklands drilling program with the other companies”, said CEO Howard Obee.

Borders & Southern Petroleum PLC said it will join a Falkland Islands drilling consortium so it can participate in the 2015 drilling program on the Islands, as soon as partnering and funding has been secured for its licenses.

 The company reported a pre-tax loss of 933,492 dollars for the six months ended June 30, narrowed from a 3.4 million loss in the first-half of 2013.

The company does not currently generate any revenue, with the narrowed loss being attributed to paying no finance expense in 2014, compared to a 2 million cost in 2013, accompanied by an increase of its finance income to 731,505 from 40,245 dollars.

Borders & Southern reported a cash balance of 21.5 million at June 30, sufficient to cover forward overhead costs and all necessary short-term technical studies, it said.

The company holds a 100% equity interest and operatorship in three production licences in the Falkland Islands.

Detailed technical analysis of the Darwin East discovery continues, including the selection of potential appraisal well locations. Evaluation of nearby prospects is also underway.

The next phase of the evaluation is to complete a detailed seismic reservoir characterisation study, using the well data to calibrate the seismic response. This work, currently in the planning stage, will continue through the fourth quarter of 2014, said the company.

In June, the company reported an estimate for its recoverable resource for the Darwin site (East and West combined), totalling 263 million barrels of condensate and a wet gas estimate of 2.6 trillion cubic feet.

“Our main commercial thrust has been to bring partners into our acreage. Discussions with companies continue, and our objective is to reach a conclusion so that we can participate in the 2015 Falkland Islands drilling program that has been announced by other companies operating in the Falkland Islands” said CEO Howard Obee.

He added that the conceptual well designs for an exploration and appraisal program with associated logistical planning is “in an advanced stage allowing us to join the consortium as soon as partnering and funding has been secured”.