<>Desire Petroleum plc (Desire) is a UK company listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) dedicated to exploring for oil and gas in the North Falkland Basin.
Desire has recently completed a 6 well exploration programme. The Liz well encountered dry gas and gas condensate at 2 separate levels while other wells recorded shows.
Together with the Rockhopper Exploration Sea Lion oil discovery in the licence to the north, these wells have provided significant encouragement for the potential of the North Falkland Basin. The oil at Sea Lion is of particular interest as this has demonstrated that oil is trapped in potentially significant quantities in a fan sandstone on the east flank of the basin. It is believed that over 50% of this east flank play fairway is on Desire operated acreage.
Desire has now completed new 3D seismic acquisition which provides coverage over the east flank play, Ann, Pam and Helen prospects. The results from fast-track processing of priority areas are provided in the 2011 CPR. A farm-out to Rockhopper has been announced. The revised equities are shown on the licence map (subject to regulatory approval and completion of the farm-in well). Desire Petroleum
That's not quite true marky. There are areas which are 100% owned by RKH. It is not a foregone conclusion that the co-owned areas are going to interest the big boys.
Sea Lion extends in to Desires acreage and Desire hold X amount of barrels i don’t think it is possible if interested to only to deal with RKH as Desire owns a percentage of Sea Lion.
A bit like Johnson prospect both ARG and RKH both own a percentage and it could be very valuable when drilled at a later date to both.
A very strong finish by Desire today up 17% with 10 million traded, plenty of rumours circulating also to add more speculation to a deal been done by an American oil company, i see that Republican Congressman F. Jim Sensenbrenner who is in the Falklands for 6 days…..tum to tum I wonder why.
.Desire Petroleum: Your questions answered
By Stephen McDowell | Fri, 24/02/2012 - 16:01
There is a lot of waiting in the oil drilling game and 2012, while an exciting prospect, is no exception for Desire Petroleum (DES).
Answering Interactive Investor users' questions at the North American Prospect Expo (NAPE) in Houston the firm's explorations director Ken Black confirmed the firm has put its 2011 cash crisis behind it and remains well enough funded to see through existing projects and the hunt for any future rights.
Asked why the company had failed to raise sufficient funds to drill when the Ocean Guardian drilling rig was on site he replied: "We'd loved to have done of course, but the timing wasn't right in terms of market conditions."
Discussing prospects for Desire in the coming year Black said: "We have already said that we have new seismic data which we will be interpreting over the next three to six months. This will be completely updated on all of our licences."
As for the short-term, Black said he was unable to elaborate on this week's RNS announcement that an updated Competent Persons Report is due and will incorporate the 14/15-4a well results.
Interactive Investor user question: Rockhopper currently have their data open and are in discussions with potential farm-in partners but are Desire active in these discussion due to their part ownership of Sea Lion?
Black: "Rockhopper are engaged in their own farm-out process and we are not a party to those discussions. But we have a small stake in the Sea Lion field and so at some stage it requires our involvement."
Interactive Investor user: Has the company considered a farm-in in 2011? And what kind of deal would Desire seek if it were in Rockhopper's (RKH) position with a genuine discovery?
Black: "Yes, a potential farm-in was considered but the view was that the market wasn't right at that time." He added: "It would seem likely that a third party is going to get in with Rockhopper and that third party would be equally likely to take a holistic look at the region, but that is just my view."
Interactive Investor user: Why does the company not interact more with shareholders?
Black: "I'm unaware we were considered poor communicators. We have an obligation to put into the public domain any information which is price sensitive in a timely manner. I believe we fulfill that obligation."
Interactive Investor user: Can you tell us more about the Arcadia/Denholm Project?
Black: "The situation hasn't changed on the licence and we do view it as being drillable as and when funds are available, and of course the rig."
In closing, Black acknowledged the hunger of Desire's loyal shareholders for information.
He said: "Of course I can't say anything which isn't in the public domain but 2012 is going to be an exciting year for us. It is important that we see a solution for (Rockhopper's) Sea Lion development and when that happens I think it would be an appropriate time for us to get involved."
"I can see that happening this year. In the course of things it would normally be around a six month timeframe."