Desire Petroleum plc and Rockhopper Exploration plc have jointly commissioned RPS Energy to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) over the southern part of the North Falkland Basin covering Desire’s Tranches I and L and Rockhopper’s licences PLO23 and PLO24. An EIA is an essential step in the preparation of a drilling programme in the area.
The, as yet undrilled, southern part of the North Falkland Basin is characterized by a number of significant exploration prospects, the potential of which has been enhanced by the results of the electro-magnetic survey carried out by Rockhopper over its Ernest prospect. Both Desire and Rockhopper are continuing technical studies of the area in order to be able to add to their drillable prospect inventories when a rig becomes available.