Britain's Premier Oil said it was seeking a partner for an oil development in the Falkland Islands in order to reduce its exposure to the 5.2 billion dollar project and make higher payouts to shareholders.
Shares in UK's Premier Oil, which has interests in developing Falkland Islands oil, soared almost 9% on Tuesday despite news that its chief executive is to step down after nine years at the helm. Simon Lockett will leave his position and the board of Premier once a successor has been appointed.
UK independent Premier Oil reported Thursday that its production rate peaked at 75,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day during December, when the average rate was 69,000 boepd. Premier said that average production for 2013 as a whole was 58,200 boepd, compared to an average rate of 57,700 boepd for 2012.
Premier Oil expects to raise at least £100 million in a bond offer scheduled to close on 6 December. The FTSE 250 oil and gas company, with interests in the Falkland Islands, the North Sea, and South-East Asia, said its 5% sterling bonds auction has already built a book value of at least £100 million.
Premier Oil, which has a farm in agreement with Falkland Islands Rockhopper Exploration, is buying into an exploration project in Kenya, by farming into onshore Block 2B.
Premier Oil, the British North Sea's oldest company outside the oil majors, is turning away from the region for future exploration opportunities such as the Catcher and the Sea Lion project in the Falkland Islands, according to a report published by Reuters.
The incorporation of a major oil company is a sign of confidence in the future of the Falklands hydrocarbons industry and by any standards “absolutely fantastic”, said the Islands governor Nigel Haywood during an official reception at Government House for Rockhopper Exploration and their UK partners Premier Oil.
Britain's Premier Oil which reached a 1 billion dollars deal to farm in and develop Rockhopper Exploration oil and gas discoveries in the Falkland Islands took advice from the Foreign Office before closing the deal, according to UK media.