Rockhopper Exploration plc , the North Falkland Basin oil and gas exploration company, announces that it has entered into an assignment agreement to secure three firm additional well slots on the Ocean Guardian drilling rig.
Rockhopper intends to utilise these three well slots after Desire Petroleum plc completes drilling operations on its next well, which follows the appraisal well currently being drilled by Rockhopper.
Rockhopper further announces that the acquisition of new 3D seismic data to the south of the Sea Lion discovery well, on licence PL032, has been completed and the Company intends to fast track the processing of this data. It is anticipated that the resulting processed data will become available to the Company during July 2011. The wider seismic acquisition programme, over areas of licences PL024, PL032 and PL033 and adjacent areas, is ongoing.
Sam Moody, Chief Executive of Rockhopper, commented,
“The additional rig slots will see Rockhopper continuing an exciting and considerable work programme in the North Falkland Basin this year. Our understanding of the basin has advanced following the Sea Lion discovery, and will be further enhanced by our current appraisal operations, together with new seismic data. This information will be valuable in identifying our forward drilling programme.”
[mappress]
Source: Rockhopper, March 14, 2011