
The Argentine government rejected British oil company Rockhopper Exploration's earlier announcement regarding the finding of oil in Falklands/Malvinas Islands, warning that the government “will take the necessary actions to avoid Great Britain from taking illegal possession of Argentina's non-renewable resources.”

In a press release from Rockhopper Exploration (LON:RKH), the company says the North Falkland Basin oil and gas exploration company, is pleased to announce that well 14/10-2 on the Sea Lion prospect has reached a depth of 2,744 metres.

Rockhopper Exploration (LON:RKH), the North Falkland Islands Basin oil and gas exploration company, is pleased to announce that well 14/10-2 on the Sea Lion prospect has reached a depth of 2,744 metres. Initial data collected indicate that this well is an oil discovery, which would be the first in the North Falkland Basin.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation, CNOOC (NYSE:CEO) Ltd said on Wednesday it had closed a 3.1 billion US dollars deal with Argentina’s Bridas Energy Holdings (BEH) to buy a 50% stake in Bridas Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of BEH.

Petrobras Energía (NYSE:PZE), Brazil’s government managed oil and gas corporation announced it will sell part of its assets in Argentina to Oil Combustibles SA for 110 million US dollars, including a refinery, gasoline stations and inventories.

United States officials have announced a ban on fishing for at least ten days in waters off Louisiana spanning to parts of the Florida panhandle as the oil slick from a leak spreads across the Gulf of Mexico. Rough weather conditions are complicating crews’ efforts to contain the oil slick.

State of Florida Governor Charlie Crist declared on Friday a state of emergency in coastal counties because of the threat from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil started washing ashore on the US Gulf Coast from a leaking offshore well, the US Coast Guard reported. Up to 5,000 barrels of oil a day are thought to be spilling into the water after last week's explosion on a BP-operated rig (NYSE:BP), which then sank.

Repsol YPF S.A. (BMAD:REP), Spain’s biggest oil company, is considering the sale of about 40% of its Brazil assets in an initial public offering as early as this year, company executives said Thursday on a conference call.

Efforts were under way Sunday to contain and stop oil leaking from a BP well after a rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, the US Coast Guard said. Officials found oil was leaking Saturday from the well.