
Representatives from Rockhopper Exploration are visiting the Falkland Islands this week. The company took over the rig Ocean Guardian from Desire on completion of their well, and Rockhopper’s well 14/10-3 (Sea Lion North) was spudded on January 13.

Argentine daily newspaper El Cronista on Monday reported that YPF will begin oil exploration in the Malvinas basin in February. The newspaper reports that exploration will begin 289 kilometres off the coast of Tierra del Fuego and cost U$ 150 million.

Figures released by the Venezuelan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum said the average price of crude oil sold by Petroleras de Venezuela (PDVSA) rose this week to U$ 86.79 up from U$ 85.987 last week.

FOGL, the oil and gas exploration company is pleased to announce an exploration update with respect to its licence interests offshore the Falkland Islands and in particular to its 100% owned and operated southern licences. FOGL also holds a 49% interest in licences collectively referred to as the northern licences in which BHP Billiton holds 51% and is operator.

A spokesperson for the Argentine oil firm YPF informed that exploration work is scheduled to begin this quarter on the coast of Tierra del Fuego, a province located off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland.

FALKLAND Oil and Gas Limited has the potential to offer investors returns of 130 per cent in the medium term, according to the Jefferies brokerage.

Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez announced that his country's oil reserves total 217 barrels, topping Saudi Arabia's and making them the largest in the world.

The Brazilian government and Navy are considering an ambitious plan for launching an offshore subsea lab to be located at the limit of the country´s territorial waters and beyond the farthest pre-salt play

The United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO, global food prices index reached a record high in December, 2010 reported the organization this week. The FAO food index tracks a basket of 55 key food commodities including items such as wheat, cooking oil and fats and sugar.

President Evo Morales’ government has offered to reimburse 100% of the cost of successful exploratory drilling in Bolivia by private oil and natural gas companies, state-owned energy company YPFB announced this week.