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.

Wonderful post....it's going to take half an hour at least to read ....thanks Marky.....so much information here.....Rachel....not the same as Sea Lion......good or bad news for Desire....boy !...exciting times down under....!...

cynic remember the saying "bullshit baffles brains"!!

Tell PP that halfax....

At least u have read it ,500 mill plus, been blunt!

tell me hali, what happens if you haven't a brain? .... is one then not baffled?

no talks a lot of bullsh*t like me and you cyners.,.

http://energy.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1925981/?UserKey=


Argentina could try to grab Falklands resources
By Jeremy Cresswell

Published: 04/10/2010


Why even speculate on another Falklands military war when Argentina could use the stock market as a lethal weapon?
More Pictures

There has been lots of speculation of late that Argentina might fancy having a pop at the Falkland Islands again.

I suppose that if the current UK government ploughs ahead with the massive cuts in public spending that have occupied many a headline of late, then perhaps they might be slightly tempted.

For now at least, the Falklands are much better defended than they were prior to the Falklands War of 1982.

But, if our Tory PM David Cameron and coalition LibDem sidekick Nick Clegg have their way, Old Blightys ability to rise to a scrap in the South Atlantic could be dangerously reduced.

However, for now, the Royal Navy still has some pretty sophisticated warships at its disposal and the RAF has the Typhoon, plus it still has the superb Harrier jump jet, whereas one understands the Argentine military machine has barely advanced.

So, on balance, it seems to me that Argentina would be plain stupid to try anything on in that regard. A bloodied nose would result.

But there is another way for the Argentines and their allies to get at the UK and grab control of at least a portion of Falklands resources by using the London Stock Market. Its simple, sneaky and could happen without many of us realising it at least initially.

All they have to do is mount hostile bids for UK companies holding oil and gas concessions around the South Atlantic archipelago.

You think Im nuts? Well, read on.

As anyone who is currently following the Falklands drilling campaign knows, the game is controlled by three minnows Desire Petroleum (DES), Falklands Oil & Gas (FOGL) and Rockhopper (RKH).

Thus far, RKH is ahead of the field, with its Sea Lion discovery apparently shaping up to be a major oil find; moreover it is already regarded as commercial by the company.

DES has a gas discovery but has yet to come up with something that will send its share price into orbit; while FOGL (in partnership with BHP of Australia) has notched up one duster so far.

RKHs share price has risen dramatically in recent weeks and the prediction is that it will easily pass the 10 a share mark soon; doubling and even trebling that over a couple or three years, according to some.

There is speculation, too, that the firm will graduate from the AIM (Alternative Investment Market) to the FTSE 250 board soon and that personal fortunes will be made.

However, also in the conversation is the fact that these are small companies without the resources financial or people needed to develop a Sea Lion and get the oil to market.

This is a situation where, typically, an oilfield minnow would farm-down sell off a portion of the prize to another company keen to build its reserves base and which has the experience and wherewithal to finance expensive new developments.

RKH owns 100% of Sea Lion and holds the entire exploration risk itself. Will it shoulder the whole development risk too? I doubt it. Better to invite in a much bigger partner experienced in such matters and dilute.

But then what happens if someone decides to mount a hostile bid for RKH and take control of Sea Lion and everything else in the firms portfolio? And if that bidder was Argentine directly or through a cipher? Then what?

Now, I admit that I have not checked out who owns what with regard to DES, FOGL or RKH, but institutional shareholders are prominent in each and they basically call the shots. They are greedy and will sell readily if they see a fast buck.

In the same way that they appear content to sell Dana Petroleum down the river to the Koreans, they would not think twice about doing a deal if the offer was attractive, with just about anyone interested in taking out the three minnows who, for the time being, drive the Falklands exploration programme. They are pirates out for what they can get.

Would the UK Government be able to stop a takeover by Argentine-controlled (directly or indirectly) interests? Would it even be interested? Im not sure.

Of course, had the oil majors not made such a lousy job of the first Falklands exploration campaign of more than a decade ago, and bottled out so fast, the situation today might be completely different; perhaps even with oil and gas production.

There seems to be the cosy assumption afoot that the risk-averse heavy brigade will simply muscle in and take over the game on the cheap (FOGL is different as it already has mighty BHP as a partner).

Of course, the initiators get to stroll away, rich beyond their wildest dreams. Im especially thinking of RKH in this regard, given that companys success to date.

However, with various national oil companies stalking the world for assets and especially state-owned Chinese big names, the majors could very easily find themselves outbid in the Falklands anyway.

As it is, NOCs (national oil companies) are muscling in on the North Sea and the UK Government seems content to let that happen, even though the idea of state control is anathema to the Tories, especially because state control is supposed to be inefficient. Oh yes?

It is time for you lot down in Westminster to wake up and find a way of ensuring the Falklands resource does not fall into the wrong hands.

Should the Argentines try the approach mapped out here, dont say you werent warned, especially with regard to the Falklands.

While on the subject of state-controlled companies buying their way into Britain, Ive been thinking about that quite a lot recently, especially with regard to energy and transport businesses that grew out of privatisations of the Thatcher and Blair eras being taken over by the likes of Electricite de France. Only 15% of that huge company was floated on the stock market, therefore EDF is state-owned as far as Im concerned.

When the UK energy minister, Charles Hendry, attended Offshore Northern Seas in Stavanger a few weeks ago, I challenged him on why it is that British state-owned doesnt work, yet foreign state-owned ownership is acceptable.

He didnt have an answer.

Pity there is no way of transferring stock from a dealing account to a stock ISA, should RKH go in the the FTSE.

If you haven't subscribed in full, you can "bed and isa" as so to speak, but only to the limit, when this becomes a main market stock.

That still means that the current dealing stock profit remains outside the ISA protection doesn't it?

The gains are only protected once inside the isa...but not before....any gains due will have to be settled at the end of your tax year or if you are self-employed by 31st of january.....2012.

RKH seems to be the most volatile of the FI stocks atm. DES holding reasonably steady. Both have a stake in the current drilling yet RKH drifting faster.

RKH is a strong sell now...450p clearly broken.

has your wallet supported your call, or is this just another no pain easy-peasy prognostication?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/marketforceslive/2010/oct/04/national-grid-yell-appointments

Comic actor Sir Norman Wisdom has died aged 95, his son has confirmed.

The London-born comedian was famous for his slapstick film roles in the 1950s and 1960s, including the character Norman Pitkin.

Sir Norman had suffered a series of strokes causing a decline in both his mental and physical health over the past six months.

His family said he passed away at a nursing home on the Isle of Man on Monday afternoon.

Very sad...one of the greatest comedians ever.

Sad yes, He was a lovely man and a great funny-man... good boxer when he was younger.

Forget RKH this is one of the greats of Britain and we just lost him.

RKH at 437p is about a retracement of 38.2% from the Intraday high of 547p

Will it bounce from that or it will move lower into the next Fibonacci 50% or 403p?