http://www.falklands-oil.com/

http://www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk

http://www.argosresources.com/




Rockhopper was established in 2004 with a strategy to invest in and undertake an offshore oil exploration programme in the North Falkland Basin. It was floated on AIM in August 2005. Rockhopper was the first company to make a commercial oil discovery in the Falklands. Today Rockhopper is the largest acreage holder in the North Falkland Basin, with interests in the Greater Mediterranean region.

Rockhopper Exploration plc (AIM: RKH), announces that the 14/10-6 appraisal well ("the Well") was spudded at 2125 hrs BST on 15 July 2011. The Well is situated on Licence PL032, which is 100% owned and operated by Rockhopper, and is the third appraisal well to be drilled on the Sea Lion feature since Rockhopper's oil discovery in May 2010.

The Well is located some 4.1km to the west of the 14/10-2 discovery well, on the western side of the structural low at top reservoir, and 2.3km to the south-west and 14m updip from the 14/10-4 appraisal well. The Well is designed to investigate reservoir and hydrocarbon presence outside what the Company considers the minimum case area. Both Sea Lion Main and Lower fan intervals are targets, with all the Sea Lion Main fan expected to be above the Oil-Water Contact established by the 14/10-4 appraisal well, and with reservoir expected to be thinner than encountered in previous wells on the Sea Lion feature.

Drilling operations are expected to take approximately 38 days and a further announcement will be made once drilling is completed.

Fox Davies update

Rockhopper (LON:RKH) Exploration plc (BUY, 5.00) (RKH, 227.75p, ▼ 1.94%) announced that the 14/10-6 appraisal well ("the Well") was spudded on 15 July 2011. The Well is situated on Licence PL032, which is 100% owned and operated by Rockhopper, and is the third appraisal well to be drilled on the Sea Lion feature since Rockhopper's oil discovery in May 2010. The Well is located some 4.1km to the west of the 14/10-2 discovery well, on the western side of the structural low at top reservoir, and 2.3km to the south-west and 14m updip from the 14/10-4 appraisal well. The Well is designed to investigate reservoir and hydrocarbon presence outside what the Company considers the minimum case area. Both Sea Lion Main and Lower fan intervals are targets, with all the Sea Lion Main fan expected to be above the Oil-Water Contact established by the 14/10-4 appraisal well, and with reservoir expected to be thinner than encountered in previous wells on the Sea Lion feature. Drilling operations are expected to take approximately 38 days and a further announcement will be made once drilling is completed.

Falklands : DEPARTMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES REPORT FOR JUNE/JULY 2011
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 17.07.2011 (Current Article)
Since the last report for the meeting held on 3 May 2011 Rockhopper Exploration has drilled and flow tested another appraisal well (14/10-5) on the Sea Lion field situated 400 metres from the discovery well (14/10-2). Press Releases from Rockhopper Exploration published the results from the well, and the flow test, where stabilised flow rates were recorded at 5,508 barrels per day.


DEPARTMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES REPORT FOR JUNE/JULY 2011







By Phyl Rendell







Progress with the Offshore Drilling Programme


Since the last report for the meeting held on 3 May 2011 Rockhopper Exploration has drilled and flow tested another appraisal well (14/10-5) on the Sea Lion field situated 400 metres from the discovery well (14/10-2). Press Releases from Rockhopper Exploration published the results from the well, and the flow test, where stabilised flow rates were recorded at 5,508 barrels per day. The team at Rockhopper Exploration who were responsible for the flow test, particularly the engineering and logistics, are to be congratulated on achieving such a successful outcome. They have demonstrated again that technically challenging activities can be overcome in a remote location. The rig will move to a new appraisal location and spud well 14/10-6 next.

Mr Ken Humphrey has represented Rockhopper Exploration in Stanley throughout the flow test and an independent observer was employed by Rockhopper Exploration to observe the flaring of hydrocarbons from a supply vessel to assess any environmental impact. His report is the next item on the agenda.

Helicopters

The helicopter company, CHC Helicopters International Inc., has recently taken over the contract to move offshore crew to and from the rig using two Super Puma aircraft. The company is based in Stanley and is using Stanley Airport facilities as an operating base. British International Helicopters (BIH) have done an excellent job since the Ocean Guardian arrived here in February 2010 and CHC are equally welcome as an operating company in the Falkland Islands.


2D and 3D Seismic Surveys

The survey vessels, Polarcus Nadia and Polarcus Asima, completed their integrated 3D survey programmes in the North Falkland Basin for Argos Resources, Desire Petroleum and Rockhopper Exploration by the end of May. Argos Resources announced the completion of the survey over their licensed acreage in mid April and they have had some data fast track processed. Their press release of 5 July mentions that more of their data will be fast tracked due to the good results from the first package. Desire Petroleum and Rockhopper Exploration are similarly having data processed as soon as it is available in order to assist them to indentify additional structures that may be ranked significant enough to drill.

Falklands Oil & Gas Limited (FOGL) contracted the Gardline vessel Ocean Endeavour in February to acquire 2D seismic and environmental data over a number of drilling prospects in their acreage. The programme ended mid June after all the planned survey locations were completed and some 2D data had been acquired. The information acquired from the surveys will be incorporated into an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that the company plan to submit to FIG in August in preparation for drilling the Loligo well.


Weather conditions were particularly trying for the vessels in late summer and a report on seismic data acquisition will be presented at this meeting.




Argos Resources Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Argos Resources has submitted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) in preparation for drilling wells in their acreage. The EIS document is available from the Department of Mineral Resources to anyone wishing to read it. Argos Resources held public meetings, led by their Chairman, Mr Ian Thomson, in Stanley and Port Howard during the consultation period where they explained their drilling plans. The company has until 13 July to respond to written comments. The Environmental Planning Officer will draw up a report, taking into account the written comments received and an external review that was conducted for FIG. He will present his report to the next meeting of the Mineral Resources Committee and recommendations will then be forwarded to Executive Council.

Change of Rig for the Southern Basin Drilling Programme.

Borders & Southern Petroleum (BSP) announced on 6 May that the rig company, Ocean Rig, would be supplying the Leiv Eiriksson to drill their two firm wells in place of the Eirik Raude. The Leiv Eiriksson is currently drilling wells in western Greenland and is due to arrive on location in the Falkland Islands by the end of the year. Falklands Oil & Gas Ltd (FOGL) has also announced that they have agreed a contract with BSP to use the rig to drill two wells. One of their drilling locations is in on the structure called Loligo.


Oil and Gas Development Group Underway

One of the actions from the Economic Development Strategy was to establish a working group to review policies and regulations to ensure that the Falkland Islands economy can gain maximum benefit from oil and gas exploration activities. The Oil and Gas Development Group, with representation from the private sector, FIG, FIDC and the oil industry is meeting monthly in order to make recommendations where necessary to add value to current activities.

Offshore Hydrocarbon Environmental Forum

Further to the preliminary work carried out by the Mineral Resources Department, the Environmental Planning Department has taken the Forum forward by consulting stake -holders on the appointment of a chairperson. After advertisement in Penguin News names are to be considered at a meeting this week for possible appointment. The work of the Forum can then begin with agreeing the terms of reference for the Forum and priorities for discussion at a future meeting.

Oil Company Visitors

There have been numerous visits to the Islands by oil company consultants, particularly in relation to Rockhopper Explorations flow test programme and BSPs drilling plans. In addition, Mr Eddie Wisniewski, Desire Petroleums Finance Director and Mr Ken Black, Exploration Director, visited the Islands in early May and gave a presentation to the Mineral Resources Committee. Later in May Mr Peter Dixon-Clarke, Rockhopper Explorations Finance Director and Mr Paul Culpin, Development Director, spent time in Stanley and held a very well attended public meeting, presenting the development concept of using Floating Production Storage & Offloading facilities (FPSOs) for oil production.

Due to disruptions with flights from volcanic ash, both a visit by BGS consultant, Dr Phil Richards and FOGL representatives, had to be postponed. FOGL will make their visit now at the end of July.

Use of Charter Flight seats during Volcanic Ash Cloud

Rockhopper Exploration is to be thanked for arranging for around 100 stranded passengers to travel north on their charter flight prior to finalising arrangements for passengers to book flights, after three consecutive airbridge flights had been cancelled due to the volcanic ash cloud over the South Atlantic.

http://sartma.com/art_8870.html

Seems to have fallen from grace.

pray for a bid.

Commerciality is not evident so a bid in the medium term very unlikely.

hlyeo u crawled out from your stone again, why did BHP had 2 reps observing on the OG for Sealion's flowtest.....fact!!!!

http://www.cityam.com/news-and-analysis/rockhopper-exploration-spuds-third-sea-lion-appraisal-well-falklands

Tuesday 19th July 2011, 12:46am
OIL & GAS
KASMIRA JEFFORD
ROCKHOPPER Exploration, the oil and gas explorer, pressed ahead with its hunt for oil in the North Falklands, after drilling its third appraisal well on the Sea Lion Discovery feature last week.

The group told investors yesterday that it had spudded the well on 15 July and expected to complete the drilling within five weeks.

Located 4.1km west of the original discovery well, the group will Investigate reservoir and hydrocarbon in what will be the first test outside of the 155m barrel minimum case area.

Rockhopper, which was founded in 2004 to hunt for oil and gas in the Falkland Islands, made its first discovery last year followed by a significant oil and gas discovery at the Sea Lion field earlier this year.

Shares in the company closed at 219p falling 3.68 per cent, however, surprising analysts. Canacord Genuity expect the share price to move closer to their pricetarget of 593p as Rockhopper continues to make progress in its drilling campaign.
.

Hlyeo
Get real - just 'cos 'RKH unleaded has not arrived at the pumps in Chiswick doesn't mean that it is not commercial.
Just bought at 219

http://soundcloud.com/grumbleguts/2794804-1


Sam Moody and Dave Bodecott host a Teleconference and Q&A session post flow test results.

Wait for the Q&A at the end.

Markymar,

Excellent conference call. Both came over as very genuine and gave as open answers as possible.

I have pinched the link for a competitors site as it is in the open domain, but thanks for finding it and posting here.

Regards Greek.

Should be a blue day tom,thought i was the only one here Greek.

From 4.5km to 4.1km.........we have a good board there...

Chatham Fan its had a hair cut a few times now

Marky
You're not alone - here and watching closely.

Just spotted this and have difficulty understanding the last paragraph. Perhaps the next set of results will put the doubters to the sword - in the meantime I could do without the diurnal variation!


LONDON (ShareCast) - Rockhopper Exploration, the firm hunting for oil off the coast of the Falkland Islands, has drilled a third appraisal well on the so-called Sea Lion feature on the south Atlantic sea bed.

Rockhopper has attracted significant attention in the past year after claiming it had discovered commercially viable levels of oil in its 100% owned exploration area.

It will be at least 38 days before we discover the results of the latest drilling effort but investors are clearly wary of Rockhoppers claims, with the share price down 1.1% in early trading today and 15% on the month.BS

http://www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk/pdf/RPS_Rockhopper_CPR_2009.pdf

Page 43 looks like we could be going for a double .......live oil found in 14/10-1 so it had a hair cut now it looks like we are going in the centre 4.1km...

The Chatham fan, which is a northsouth
prograding system characterised by elongate
channel-attached lobes, appears to have been
tested at its edge by the second Shell well
(14/10-1). A 1m thick sand was encountered
in this well having very good C1 to C5
hydrocarbon shows. The fan appears to
thicken away from the well into an area of
very bright seismic amplitudes. This suggests
that commercially viable accumulations of
hydrocarbons could be present in the brighter
areas of the fan which have not yet been
tested. These areas will be further investigated
for prospectivity during future technical work.

Hi Avsec,

Investors are indeed wary of Rockhoppers claims, as is shown by the share price.
I for one am very confident in where this is heading, but still wary enough not to increase my holdings.
I have learned over the last 10 years or so of investing in the markets that things can and do go wrong, even in what I would consider as good a bet as Rockhopper.
I also feel that many who have a narrower risk policy than myself and have RKH on their radar, are holding back for more solid evidence of oil amounts.
They may not make as much profit as those of us who were in early, but obviously if the wheel does come off, they won't loose as much either.
Personally I see the last paragraph as 'normal' not with any suspicion.

Regarding the conference call posted by Markymar, the only hard figures mentioned were to do with the well tests already carried out. Both Sam Moody and Dave Bodecott were quite rightly very careful to say nothing that they could not prove, although they did give a couple of opinions, which they were also very careful to quantify that it was an opinion and that they had found nothing to contradict said opinions.

regards Greek.

The way the markets are playing out, I expect to see the rock back down at 160ish before we see 300p.
No doubt it will come good in the log run but with First Oil not until 2015 and no majors showing interest, this has plenty of ups and downs to come.

Hi AR,

Welcome, have not seen you post on here before.

My view.

We might see 160p, but the wheel would seriously have to come off big style, either with RKH itself, the world economy (very likely) or both.
I feel that without the 2 mentioned scenarios, we won't see 200p again. My reasoning being that before the sp reaches 200p, most would look on it as a great buying opportunity.
For myself, I am getting about 50% out of the market as I am very pessimistic re the EU situation.
The only shares I am retaining are those in companies that have the likelihood of suddenly shooting upward due to one company case opportunities, IE such as RKH, who if even when the P50 is proven will be worth plus 200p and more on their NAV alone, and the P figure could easily increase.

Too many punters are looking at the oil production route, and whilst my own view is that RKH should stay an explorer, selling discoveries on to the majors, I have little problem if they go down the production route.
Even then, whilst excepting that the production route is as you say not till 2015 at the earliest, that oil in the ground, when proven, is almost as good as cash in the bank.
All IMHO of course.

Regards Greek.

Hi Greek.
Been sat on the sidelines reading for ages, finally took the plunge to post.


I agree with pretty much everything you say with however the addition of in my point of view the potential value of oil in 2015.

The world seems to be trying to move away from fossil fuels albeit very slowly, If RKH were on the doorstep of First Oil as are for eg XEL, then I would value them at more than double todays SP, however 4 years is a long time to project a viability cost/value for FI Oils.

added to that the Euro fiasco, sovereign issues and the general state of the world markets and then throw in for good measure the massive oil finds coming out of Kurdestan and I can see long term oil price falling back to the $65 range.

Will Sealion still be viable at those prices?

I have a very small holding of RKH, having moved the bulk of my portfolio into XEL.

All in my opinion and I hope that anyone brave enough to invest gets rewarded

regards

AustrianRetreats