
Rockhopper Exploration operating in the North Falkland basin has provided an upbeat update on its second appraisal well, 14/10-5, on the Sea Lion discovery which was drilled 600 m north of the 14/10-2 discovery well to a TD of 2,726 m.

INTEREST in the Falkland Islands, “is on the increase,” said Director of Mineral Resources Phyllis Rendell who recently attended the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) in Houston.

Rockhopper Exploration has spudded the next appraisal well on the Sea Lion oil discovery in the Falkland Islands’ waters. Drilling began on the 14/10-5 appraisal well on May first 2011.

Falkland Islands Desire Petroleum reported Monday that it had completed the drilling of its Ninky prospect (2.620 metres) which showed the reservoir quality “is generally poor” and therefore the well will be plugged and abandoned, according to an official report released Monday.

Shares in Falkland Islands Rockhopper Exploration soared 16% on Monday, after it raised its lowest case estimate of crude reserves at its Sea Lion well.

One of the strangest ships ever to visit the Falkland Islands this week lay at anchor in Port William after making a hasty departure from FIPASS. Had it not left the dock, an ongoing legal wrangle involving its owners could have caused it to be detained there indefinitely – rendering a significant proportion of FIPASS unusable by other vessels, perhaps for a very long time.

Rockhopper Exploration announced Monday that its Sea Lion discovery in the North Falkland basin is likely to be commercially viable and anticipated drilling for further appraisal wells (a minimum of three).

One of the Falkland Islands oil and gas exploration companies currently involved in the oil exploration round with licences granted by the Falklands’ government announced it plans further drilling and has acquired new 3D seismic data while it continues with the wider seismic program.

Rockhopper Exploration plc (AIM: RKH), the North Falkland Basin oil and gas exploration company, announces that the 14/10-4 appraisal well was spudded at 0040hrs GMT on 19 February 2011.

A well drilled by Rockhopper Exploration off the Falkland Islands struck a good quality reservoir that bodes well for further development in the area announced the UK explorer in a release.