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.
At peak oil production from the Falkland Islands offshore Sea Lion oil field, Premier Oil is hoping for 85,000 barrels of oil per day. Over 20 years they anticipate 255 million barrels of oil in a medium-case scenario.
Rockhopper Exploration PLC on Tuesday said it has signed a milestone farm-in deal at the Sea Lion project in the Falkland Islands. Rockhopper shares were 30% higher in early trade in London at a price of 19.44 pence each. Premier was 13% higher at 114.62p.
The recent announcements by Rockhopper PLC and Premier Oil referred to the development of the Sea Lion project in the Falkland Islands, have triggered a reaction from the Argentine foreign ministry.
Premier Oil on Wednesday reduced its forecast for its 2019 operating costs to US$12 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe) from US$ 13 and expects debt reduction to reach the upper end of its US$ 250-350 million target by year-end.
Britain’s Premier Oil increased its 2019 production guidance on Thursday, saying output had been boosted by efficiency measures and a late sale from its now-divested Pakistan oil fields. The company said it now expects output to reach 75,000 to 80,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) this year, from up to 75,000 boed previously.
Rockhopper Exploration PLC on Tuesday said its loss narrowed in 2018 as it progresses on field development in the Falkland Islands. The oil & gas exploration and production company's loss narrowed in 2018 to US$ 7.1 million from US$ 9.0 million a year before, as revenue climbed to US$ 10.6 million from US$ 10.4 million.
Oil companies Noble Energy and Edison have decided to relinquish their stakes in the PL001 offshore license in the Falkland Islands according to Offshore Energy Today. Argos Resources had held a 100% in the PL001 block before the two companies’ farm-in back in 2015. Argos’ shares fell 30% following the announcement.
As Mercopress have reported over recent months, Premier Oil continue to progress their Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) process for the Sea Lion oil discovery. As a next step in this process, earlier this week Premier Oil plc provided details of their intended approach to both procurement and infrastructure to support the discovery to the north of the Falkland Islands.
Rockhopper Exploration says Standard Chartered Bank will serve as Pathfinder Bank for the proposed senior debt project financing of the Premier Oil-operated Phase 1 development of the Sea Lion project offshore the Falkland Islands.