Offshore staff

LONDON – The semisubmersible Ocean Guardian has spudded the 14/15-4 farm-in well for Rockhopper Exploration on license PL004b in the offshore North Falkland basin.

Following completion of this well, Rockhopper will have a 60% interest in the license with Desire Petroleum holding the remainder.

The well will investigate reservoir presence and hydrocarbon charge toward the southernmost mapped limit of the Sea Lion discovery, and will also serve as an exploration well on the Beverley prospect.

The location is 12.1 km (7.5 mi) southwest of the Sea Lion 14/10-2 discovery well and 6.3 km (3.9 mi) south of well 14/10-9.

According to Desire, Rockhopper intends to drill to target depth, then side track to core if the well encounters a significant hydrocarbon-charged reservoir in either the Sea Lion Main Complex or Beverley.

Initial drilling and logging operations should last around 20 days.

11/28/2011