Namesake: a Rockhopper penguin
Rockhopper primes Falklands bit
AIM-listed Rockhopper Exploration has formally signed a deal to take two drilling slots in the upcoming exploration drilling campaign off the Falkland Islands.
Officials from Rockhopper, Desire Petroleum and Diamond Offshore sealed the deal this week, which was flagged up in Upstream two weeks ago.
Desire Petroleum contracted Diamond’s semi-submersible Ocean Guardian last year for a four-well campaign with six extra slots.
The rig is expected to start drilling the first well of the campaign in the North Falkland basin on Desire’s Liz prospect by mid-month.
Rockhopper confirmed in a release today that its Sea Lion prospect will be next on the Ocean Guardian’s list.
Wells take about 25 to 30 days to drill in the North Fakland basin.
Rockhopper added its Ernest prospect will be either be the third or fourth well of the programme.
The schedule is dependent on the outcome of advanced negotiations with BHP Billiton, which looks set to use the unit to drill its Teroa prospect to the south-east of the South Atlantic islands.