Rockhopper prepares for Falklands drilling

Offshore staff

SALISBURY, UK --Rockhopper Exploration has contracted SPD Group for well engineering services in readiness for a drilling campaign in the North Falkland basin.

The agreement gives Rockhopper access to a range of engineering and project management services, including the provision of long-lead items such as wellheads and casing.

The company has also made three other appointments. Thompson Knight Global Energy Services, a specialist adviser in license farm-out arrangements, will assist in Rockwater's drilling farm-out plans.

RPS Energy will perform and environmental impact assessment on Falkland licenses PL032 and PL033, in preparation for drilling. Finally, CGG Veritas will reprocess short offset 3D data over these two licenses.

Rockwater will use that data to evaluate potential geohazards over selected drilling locations, with the aim of avoiding acquisition of specialist high resolution seismic. Following completion of these various exercises, the company expects to be ready to drill two to four targets across its blocks, as well as participating in other wells planned by Desire Petroleum in the same basin.

04/24/2008