Rockhopper Exploration and Navitas Petroleum have reached an agreement by which the Israeli company becomes the operator of the promising Sea Lion project located north of the Falkland Islands. This lays the basis for a new technical and financing plan for a lower-cost development of the Sea Lion area.
A hydrocarbon development project in the Falkland Islands faces new challenges following the announcement of one of the companies involved that it shall be lifting all South Atlantic operations.
Rockhopper Exploration is responding to market developments by reducing staffing levels and activity related to the Sea Lion development in the offshore North Falkland basin. The company plans to maintain a smaller team, mainly focused on regulatory, fiscal and financial issues, pending a recovery in the external macro-environment.
Oil and gas exploration firm Rockhopper Exploration, with interests in the Falklands and preparing to advance with the Sea Lion project, has agreed to sell its assets in Egypt to United Oil & Gas in a US$ 16m deal. The sale of Rockhopper Egypt includes a non-operated 22% interest in the Abu Sennan concession onshore Egypt and the existing assets of the business.
Negotiations continue with service providers for the Premier Oil-operated Sea Lion development in the offshore North Falkland basin. According to partner Rockhopper Exploration, Phase 1 will develop around 220 MMbbl in license PL032 and a further 300 MMbbl from the license’s remaining resources under Phase 2.
Rockhopper Exploration and operator Premier Oil have submitted a revised draft field development plan for the Sea Lion Phase 1 project to the Falkland Islands government. According to Rockhopper, a final submission should follow in the lead-up to sanction of the project, in the offshore North Falkland basin.
Rockhopper Exploration said the Sea Lion phase 1 project in the North Falkland Basin was moving towards sanction at the end of 2018. London-listed Rockhopper said project partners had been focusing on securing the US$1.5billion of capex required to achieve first oil.
Falkland Islands oil explorer Rockhopper Exploration Plc has confirmed cost cuts at its Sea Lion project, which will reduce the scheme´s break-even price to US$ 45 a barrel. Capital investment at Sea Lion to reach first oil is now estimated at US$ 1.5bn.
Despite current low oil prices, the oil and gas industry in the Falkland Islands is continuing to go from strength to strength as its first project, Premier Oil’s Sea Lion, moves closer to commercialization, according to an analyst with research and consulting firm GlobalData.
Rockhopper Exploration flagship project, offshore the Falkland Islands the Sea Lion oil field development, continues to advance despite the recent slump in crude prices.