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.

personally i have total respect for those who served in the falklands - in fact i know many who did - the ones who do not have respect are government starting with labour who started the destruction of our armed forces and due to the financial mayhem they left behind when they lost the election the UK can no longer afford such a fantastic armed forces as we had - due to the piece meal break up and re-org of the armed forces the UK would not be able to defend the falklands for a sustained period that is fact even high ranking military chiefs had said this - the disrespect to falklands veterans is from the government - look at today 5000 cut in the army - most from one of the most feared regiments the Gurkhas who gladly put their life on the line for this country only to be sacked! look to the government for disrespect to the armed forces and aim your venom there

Hope you got your fingers burnt today Gibby,you havent a clue to what is going on.

nor me, got 260 wrong.,.

not today thankfully as i kept away from rkh - aim as we all know often will not follow logic - could have gone either way at one point here so left well alone - i am glad the day ended blue for you though

i agree that rkh from an explorers outlook has potential - gas is obvious, some oil already and potentially more to come - but i like to look at all risks including those external to the exploration only - we have a difference of opinion on where rkh is going long term that's all - i hope i am wrong and you are right but it is always best to listen to all opinions in my view - gl

baler - its not over yet!! gl

Gibby

i hope i am wrong and you are right You don't mean that do you .... lol

Gibby

I fought throughout the Falklands Campaign and lost good friends as fellow RN pilots. I am regularly in touch with Argentine people I knew before, fought and met up with after the conflict - none of them want any part of the current political squabble.

quote
everyone is aware of the situation ref the malvinas islands!! errrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... sorry falklands
unquote
Your snide comments are unwelcome.

Some posters' knowledge of the military threat that Argentina posese to the Falkland Islands must be derived from the Beano or perhaps the Dandy. There isn't one.

avsec - it is true that many argentine people do not want another conflict - however it is not their views that count - the ploiticians decide - where you have quoted me ref malvinas / falklands you misunderstood - it is difficult to put things over in a short note sometimes - i was trying to state how the argentine government and maby / most SA coutries see the falklands - was not meant as a snide comment - but things are brewing out there again and like last time most the normal citizens of argentine do not want conflict but it did not stop it last time and may not again and last time the UK was caught playing catch up - we do not want a repeat - if you really are ex RN respect as i also knew many who fought there - but a report from december below and other things are happening, below is just from public info available:

ptholden - you do not know what i know do not discout the threat of potential argentine action - military here already aware obviously...

21 December 2011 Last updated at 14:03

South American states ban Falklands vessels from ports
Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which lie 400 miles from its coast Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Regions and territories: Falkland Islands
Argentine ire at William posting
Guarding of the Falkland Islands
A South American trading bloc has agreed to close its ports to ships flying the Falkland Islands flag.

Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, came to the decision at a summit in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo.

But Uruguayan President Jose Mujica said British-flagged civilian ships that may supply the islands would still be allowed to use its ports.

The Foreign Office said there was "no justification" for the action.

The Falklands flag is flown by 25 boats, mostly fishing vessels operated in joint ventures with Spanish companies.

The Mercosur decision is the latest in a series by Latin American regional bodies designed to show solidarity with Argentina which has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which it calls Las Malvinas.

Britain has held them since the 1830s and says their future is not negotiable. The two countries fought a brief but bloody war over the islands in 1982.

Their dispute has flared again recently. Last year, Argentina accused the UK of breaking international rules by allowing oil drilling under a seabed off the islands, located in a vast area of potentially mineral-rich South Atlantic waters.

'Very concerned'

Britain has also refused recent requests to re-open negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falklands.

Uruguay proposed the move to close ports to Falklands-flagged vessels. Mr Mujica said: "We hold nothing against the UK. But we have a lot in favour of Argentina."

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Malvinas is not an Argentine cause, it is a global cause, because in the Malvinas they are taking our oil and fishing resource”
End Quote
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

Argentinian President
He said solidarity among South America's neighbours was key to his country's foreign policy, adding: "For the moment, this means accepting that this territory is a colonial British position in our America."

However, the president of the Falklands Chamber of Commerce, Roger Spink, told the BBC that they were a small community, and felt increasingly under blockade.

"If we were Palestine, the European Union would be up in arms," he said.

The Foreign Office, who called on Uruguay's ambassador in London to explain the move last week, said it was discussing the developments "urgently with countries in the region".

A spokesman said: "We are very concerned by this latest Argentine attempt to isolate the Falkland Islands people and damage their livelihoods, for which there is no justification.

"It is not immediately clear what practical impact, if any, this statement will have, which mirrors the language already used by the Union of South American Nations in 2010.

"But no-one should doubt our determination to protect the Falkland Islanders' right to determine their own political future."

Oil exploration

The Foreign Office called on Uruguay's ambassador in London to explain the move last week.

The chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Richard Ottaway, said the situation was "very unsatisfactory", with the ban seeming to be a breach of international law and tensions in the region escalating.

Tory MP Patrick Mercer called the ban "needlessly provocative".

Shadow foreign minister John Spellar said: "While this looks like a bit of a flag-waving gesture, Argentina should be in no doubt of the united determination of all parties in the United Kingdom to protect the Falkland Islanders' right to determine their own future."

But former Foreign Office minister Denis MacShane said the "hostile action" was aimed at London, not the Falklands, and blamed the coalition for weakening Britain's international standing.

The Labour MP said: "South American leaders know that Britain has fewer friends than ever before because of David Cameron's isolationist approach in Europe and the indifference to the Obama administration as most cabinet members are close to US neo-Cons.

"Brazil and other countries know that thanks to Liam Fox's defence cuts, the UK no longer has aircraft carrier capability so British maritime power projection has been fatally weakened by the government."

Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who took over the presidency of the trade bloc from Mr Mujica, thanked her fellow presidents for the show of support.

Delivering a speech to the summit, she said: "Malvinas is not an Argentine cause, it is a global cause, because in the Malvinas they are taking our oil and fishing resources.

"And when there is need for more resources, those who are strong are going to look for them wherever and however they can."

British companies are exploring for oil in the waters surrounding the islands, which are 400 nautical miles from the Argentine coast.

Nearly thirty years after a task force set sail from Portsmouth and Southampton to recapture the Falkland Islands, a former head of the Royal Navy has called for a nuclear submarine to be dispatched to the South Atlantic as a deterrent.

Lord Alan West, a veteran of the 1982 conflict, said a military show of force was needed after a number of South American countries imposed a blockade on the Falklands' ships.

Argentina has repeatedly claimed ownership of the Falklands and the dispute has escalated since the exploration for oil in in the islands' territorial waters in recent years.

now the squid wars, and other stuff brewing i am told - they (argies) want any oil to themselves

argentine military strength - not the scariest but not to be sneezed at given uk resources stretched to the limit:

Sources: Central Intelligence Agency

PERSONNEL

Total Population: 41,769,726 [2011]
Available Manpower: 19,998,101 [2011]
Fit for Service: 16,872,822 [2011]
Of Military Age: 662,673 [2011]
Active Military: 73,100 [2011]
Active Reserve: 0 [2011]


LAND ARMY

Total Land Weapons: 4,241
Tanks: 375 [2011]
APCs / IFVs: 822 [2011]
Towed Artillery: 289 [2011]
SPGs: 93 [2011]
MLRSs: 58 [2011]
Mortars: 1,754 [2011]
AT Weapons: 850 [2011]
AA Weapons: 375 [2011]
Logistical Vehicles: 5,021

AIR POWER

Total Aircraft: 463 [2011]
Helicopters: 125 [2011]
Serviceable Airports: 1,141 [2011]


RESOURCES (interesting)
Oil Production: 796,300 bbl/Day [2011]
Oil Consumption: 622,000 bbl/Day [2011]
Proven Reserves: 2,386,000,000 bbl/Day [2011]


View the 2012 US Military Pay Scale
LOGISTICAL

Labor Force: 16,620,000 [2011]
Roadway Coverage: 231,374 km
Railway Coverage: 36,966 km

FINANCIAL (USD)

Defense Budget: $4,000,000,000 [2011]
Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $53,610,000,000 [2011]
Purchasing Power: $596,000,000,000 [2011]

GEOGRAPHIC

Waterways: 11,000 km
Coastline: 4,989 km
Square Land Area: 2,780,400 km
Shared Border: 9,861 km


NAVAL POWER

Total Navy Ships: 42
Merchant Marine Strength: 43 [2011]
Major Ports & Terminals: 8
Aircraft Carriers: 0 [2011]
Destroyers: 4 [2011]
Submarines: 3 [2011]
Frigates: 0 [2011]
Patrol Craft: 8 [2011]
Mine Warfare Craft: 0 [2011]
Amphibious Assault Craft: 1 [2011]

this is how it should be out there - peace between former enemies carrying out their respective governments orders:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16518031

Extract from the FT today

After reported sightings of the corporate jet of Anadarko at Port Stanley this week, there were whispers that the American major was poised to enter farm-in arrangements with both Rockhopper Exploration and Argos Resources. Should the speculation prove well-informed, Anadarko’s involvement would be likely to salve the political risk of operating so close to a hostile Argentinian Government and provide a welcome boon for the legions of private investors who have backed those British companies looking for oil off the Falkland Islands. Rockhopper added 12¾p to 316½p, Argos advanced 4½p to 18¼p.

Anadarko

interesting news & from another source:

'Industry sources said the support of South American oil producers such as Brazil and Venezuela for Argentina's claims on the Malvinas Islands, means companies which have interests in those countries could also shy away from Falklands’ players.

FOGL said it was in talks with North American and European independent oil firms, and analysts said companies such as Anadarko (APC.N), which plans to exit its Brazilian operations and has no Argentine interests, could make a bid.;

gla

Gibby....do me a favour and put the waffle on another thread...nothing to do with drilling for oil with Rockhopper....

rf - really - didnt paste anymore as thought you would already know what it said but it is relevant - here you are:

'“The potential return of US players to the area - Hess exited in 1998 - could significantly reduce the perceived political risk around the Islands,” said Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts about Rockhopper, noting that Britain's Cairn Energy (CNE.L), Premier Oil (PMO.L), and U.S.-based firm Noble Energy (NBL.N) are reported to be interested in the assets.

Oriel Securities analysts said they believed “significant upside” could be generated for Rockhopper through a deal with a partner'

News getting out slowly of these meetings in the FI......this will blow soon also Desire.....watch this space

ARG also been on the move upwards recently.

Yes, now that I'm not in it !.