http://www.bodecott.com/
April update
FALKLAND ISLANDS EXPLORATION ACTIVITY
We have been involved in all areas of North Falkland exploration with several clients since before the first licensing round of 1996. Initial drilling results during 1998 were technically, but not commercially successful, i.e. oil was found but not produced. Five of the six wells drilled had shows of hydrocarbons, and the British Geological survey has estimated that between 10 and 100 Billion barrels of oil have been generated from the very rich lacustrine source rock prevalent in the deepest part of the basin.
At a meeting of the Petroleum Exploration Society in Aberdeen not too long ago, one member of the audience proclaimed that "oil will not be produced commercially off the Falklands". This was reminiscent of those who in the late 1960's said they would "drink every drop of oil produced north of 56 degrees in the North Sea". Both basins have already been proved petroliferous. The North Falkland Basin, although smaller than the North Sea in total, is in a similar state of exploration as the North sea was in the 1960's.
The second phase of Falkland Exploration is gathering momentum.
ROCKHOPPER EXPLORATION
During the past year, Rockhopper Exploration has moved rapidly to snap up a large spread of acreage in the North Falkland Basin. The licence areas approximate 5800 square kilometres at 100% interest, making the company the largest acreage holder in the North Falkland Basin, equivalent to more than 28 North Sea blocks. The evaluation of these areas has progressed rapidly using SMT Kingdom seismic interpretation software.
These are shallow water areas, with much of the area in less than 200 metres water depth, very shallow by world standards. Any exploration success here would be very quick to exploit. The potential commercial value of this acreage as a result is very high, let alone the rising oil price.
In order to get a piece of the upcoming drilling action, Rockhopper farmed in to Desire Petroleum's best prospects in licences 3 and 4, where three wells will be drilled as soon as a rig becomes available. These wells will be targeted at potential reservoirs defined on 3d seismic, between 2000 and 3000 metres depth within the oil window.
Rockhopper's remaining 100%-owned prospects are located within very modest water depths between 150 and 450 metres. Recent seismic acquisition and an EM survey have been carried out across licences 23 and 24 (February 2006), see http://www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk
The North Falkland Basin is the only Falkland area with 3D seismic. There are two existing 3D surveys on Rockhopper licences, with further surveys planned.
Rockhopper acreage is summarised as attractive for the following reasons:
Shallow waters are economically attractive for early success.
The last 1998 well drilled to 2960m. in only 11 days.
The basin is a 250 km. long Jurassic-Cretaceous Atlantic rift basin, half of which has never been drilled.
There is a proven MEGA-rich, thick, mature, lacustrine source rock.
Live oil and gas shows were proved in the 1998 wells.
The NFB is a proven petroliferous basin with a working hydrocarbon generation system.
Rockhopper is a partner in 3 upcoming wells.
Many varied plays, prospects and leads over a very wide area.
Shallow water, low cost drilling, benign environment.
The only Falkland area to have 3D seismic.
Exploration stage is North Sea, 1965.
Same water depths as Central Graben, North Sea, similar weather.
Same geology as West Africa and Argentina.
We continue to support Rockhopper's technical push for success.