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ORAC
6th May 2010, 13:37
Now it might get interesting......

Grauniad: Rockhopper shares gush higher on first Falklands oil discovery (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/marketforceslive/2010/may/06/2)

Much excitment in the Falklands, as Rockhopper Exploration has just announced the first oil discovery in the area as part of a controversial exploration programme.

At the end of March, oil was encountered in the North Falkland basin but it was not considered to be viable. But now it looks like Rockhopper has a genuine oil discovery, and the prospect of a new oil boom has been revived.

The company said it had found oil along intervals across 53 metres, which was 25 metres deep at its thickest. Now it is considering whether to plug the well, suspend it for future testing or drill an appraisal well. Managing director Sam Moody said:

We are extremely excited by the results of this well. While we are presently acquiring additional data, current indications are that we have made the first oil discovery in the North Falkland basin.

The company's shares have soared by 150% to 91p on the news, while fellow Falklands explorer Desire Petroleum is up 96% to 74p. Falklands Oil & Gas is up 21% to 164.5p and Borders and Southern is 35% better at 62p.

Not everyone is going to be happy, however. Oil exploration off the Falklands has sparked protests from Argentina, reviving memories of the conflict over the islands in 1982. Earlier this year the Argentinian government issued a decree obliging ships using Argentinian ports to seek a permit if they enter or leave British-controlled waters.

clunckdriver
6th May 2010, 14:02
As a Canadian its going to interesting to watch, both Agentina and the good ole US of A will be casting covetous eyes on this area, we in Canada have become experts of selling of our oil and gass South of the border at way below their real value, good luck folks, your going to need it!

glad rag
6th May 2010, 14:15
Game On!!:ok:

Dengue_Dude
6th May 2010, 17:42
Of course this isn't why we went to war in 1982 instead of giving every Falkland islander a million pounds and a Spanish dictionary.

Pardon me being cynical . . .

rock34
6th May 2010, 17:52
Excellent news!

Double Zero
6th May 2010, 18:10
If being even more cynical, suddenly I can see a need for two big aircraft carriers...

So maybe they might actually see RN service -( with mud moving Harriers unless the stories about reserves at Culdrose are true, hard to imagine aircraft and pilots etc being up to speed ) - after all.

Lyneham Lad
6th May 2010, 22:14
If being even more cynical, suddenly I can see a need for two big aircraft carriers...

So maybe they might actually see RN service -( with mud moving Harriers unless the stories about reserves at Culdrose are true, hard to imagine aircraft and pilots etc being up to speed ) - after all.

...aaannndd cue WEBF! :E

Squirrel 41
6th May 2010, 22:17
Err, surely this means a quick call to the bungling Baron to ask him if he fancies integrating an anti-shipping missile onto this posh Eurofighter thingy....

If you don't lose the islands in the first place, then you don't need to regain them with carriers....

S41

ORAC
7th May 2010, 09:55
That's a lot of oil, and shallow water so easily exploitable....

Rockhopper discovery could open new oil province (http://www.glgroup.com/News/Rockhopper-discovery-could-open-new-oil-province-48219.html)

Summary

Rockhopper Exploration discovered crude oil at its Sea Lion prospect at a depth of 2,744 meters. The well was drilled by Diamond Offshore's Ocean Guardian rig. This is the first discovery near in the North Falkland basin. A suite of electric logs indicate that the well found 150 gross meters of oil bearing sandstones and shales of which it appears 53 meters are net pay. Average porosity is 19%. Rockhopper will collect additional information before deciding to suspend or abandon the well.

Analysis

Rigzone Newsletter reported on Rockhoppers discovery recently. Until now, the southern offshore basins east of Argentina have been underexplored. The North Falkland basin, thought to be a Jurassic-Cretaceous failed-rift zone, is 500 kilometers north of the islands in water depths that vary between 150 and 2,000 meters. The Rockhopper discovery is apparently in water less than 200 meters deep. This means development can be done from a platform. Rockhopper's evaluation of reconnaissance (2D) and delineation (3D) seismic surveys suggest that their properties could contain up to 2.5 billion barrels. This makes it highly prospective. All together, the company has identified 11 structural targets, of which 10 could contain over 100 million barrels of reserves. If commercial production is established by Rockhopper, it would be the opening of a new petroleum province which would include the South Falkland and the Malvinas basins. Another boom could be in the making with all of the political tension between the United Kingdom and Argentina that implies.

knowitall
7th May 2010, 10:02
Can't wait for the Benny version of Dallas

Razor61
7th May 2010, 10:40
Surely if we have a land based air force of suitable strength etc, then we should be able to deter potential airborne aggressors.

BGG

We better send down some more Typhoons then!
Although the Argie Air Force isn't in a good state i don't think four Typhoons could hold off an attack. Have to think that if one or two go tits up then what are we going to do then?

coldbuffer
7th May 2010, 10:49
Tut Tut, knowitall you can't call our friends Benny, they are now called stills, as in still Benny :O

ORAC
7th May 2010, 11:08
As the Powers That Be (PTB) banned successive monikers the name chnaged from Bennies, to Stills, to Yetis, to Andys. (...And yet he's still a Benny.)

At which stage the PTB gave up.

STANDTO
7th May 2010, 11:51
I thought the correct term was 'But' (but they are still......)

Anyway, time to fire up the Phantom. What a great theme for series four of Ashes to Ashes.

"I'm Squadron Leader Gene Bloody Hunt. I ejected out of a Typhoon in 2010, and found myself in this piddly little island fighting off Argies in an Eff bloody Four!"

All rights reserved. Interested directors give me a call:D

rock34
7th May 2010, 15:25
Why bother with the expensive fitting of of an ASM to Typhoon? The Argies Air Force (inc naval wing) is in rag order. They have next to no amphib capability. We should expect a highly favourable air situation. Therefore, stick LGBs onto the Typhoon and smash and naval fleet that comes out. Oh, and use a nice nuc sub to make holes in ships too. Job jobbed.

ORAC
7th May 2010, 16:05
We should expect a highly favourable air situation. Therefore, stick LGBs onto the Typhoon and smash and naval fleet that comes out. Presumably from >30nm, outside the range of their Aspide SAW? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almirante_Brown_class_destroyer) :hmm:

petermcleland
7th May 2010, 16:12
That's a lot of oil, and shallow water so easily exploitable....

Rockhopper discovery could open new oil province (http://www.glgroup.com/News/Rockhopper-discovery-could-open-new-oil-province-48219.html)

Summary

Rockhopper Exploration discovered crude oil at its Sea Lion prospect at a depth of 2,744 meters. The well was drilled by Diamond Offshore's Ocean Guardian rig. This is the first discovery near in the North Falkland basin. A suite of electric logs indicate that the well found 150 gross meters of oil bearing sandstones and shales of which it appears 53 meters are net pay. Average porosity is 19%. Rockhopper will collect additional information before deciding to suspend or abandon the well.

Analysis

Rigzone Newsletter reported on Rockhoppers discovery recently. Until now, the southern offshore basins east of Argentina have been underexplored. The North Falkland basin, thought to be a Jurassic-Cretaceous failed-rift zone, is 500 kilometers north of the islands in water depths that vary between 150 and 2,000 meters. The Rockhopper discovery is apparently in water less than 200 meters deep. This means development can be done from a platform. Rockhopper's evaluation of reconnaissance (2D) and delineation (3D) seismic surveys suggest that their properties could contain up to 2.5 billion barrels. This makes it highly prospective. All together, the company has identified 11 structural targets, of which 10 could contain over 100 million barrels of reserves. If commercial production is established by Rockhopper, it would be the opening of a new petroleum province which would include the South Falkland and the Malvinas basins. Another boom could be in the making with all of the political tension between the United Kingdom and Argentina that implies.

This says the discovery is much deeper:-

"Rockhopper Exploration discovered crude oil at its Sea Lion prospect at a depth of 2,744 meters."

That is a very different kettle of fish!

ORAC
7th May 2010, 16:14
That's the depth of the well, not the water*.

Average depth of a well (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_crd_welldep_s1_a.htm).

*Quote: "The Rockhopper discovery is apparently in water less than 200 meters deep. This means development can be done from a platform."

Sospan
7th May 2010, 17:42
And so it begins! This statement was always on the cards, what they will do about it is another issue. Lets see if the rest of the Americas back their claim.

Argie rage (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7119075.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093)

Dengue_Dude
7th May 2010, 19:56
Well that reaction is a surprise isn't it?

Of course, the 'disagreement' was never about resources . . . was it?

Here we go again.