Indago Petroleum (IPL) has decided that a sidetrack of the long running and difficult Al Jariya-1 exploration well in the Sultanate of Oman would be neither safe nor feasible. The well will be plugged and abandoned.
Black Rock Oil and Gas (BLR) has announced that the Arrinconada 1 exploration well in Colombia is dry.
Faroe Petroleum (FPM) reported that the Yoda exploration well 7/1-2S in license PL271 in Norway was dry.
Mediterranean Oil and Gas (MOG) has recorded significant oil shows at the Ombrina Mare 2 appraisal well and drilling operations are proceeding towards target depth.
Nighthawk Energy (HAWK) has expanded its drilling programme at Jolly Ranch in the US. 18 wells have been approved by the authorities, 6 are in the application process with a further 15 well applications in planning. The first well of the programme, Jolly Ranch 16-1 encountered hydrocarbons during drilling and casing has been set to test the well.
Nighthawk has also acquired an additional 61,500 acres immediately to the north of Jolly Ranch.
Xcite Energy (XEL) are very excited about the potential commerciality of Bentley, one of the largest undeveloped heavy oil fields in the North Sea. Schlumberger has reviewed appraisal well data and concluded that a flow rate of over 4,000 bopd from a single production well is possible.
Frontera Resources (FRR) has successfully fracced the first of two wells at its Taribani Field Unit in Georgia.
Serica Energy (SQZ) said the production test result on the Kambuna-2 well was "excellent".
Pantheon Resources (PANR) has spudded the Jumonville #1 well in Iberville Parish, Louisiana.
Independent Resources (IRG) has won clearance to drill multiple wells for production testing at its Fiume Bruna coalbed methane project in northern Italy.
Matra Petroleum (MTA) has signed up a rig from Rotary Drilling for the drilling of two exploration wells on the Inke Concession in Hungary. With an anticipated spud of mid-May, the rig will be used to drill Pamuk-1 and Polany-1.
Irvine Energy (IVE) has commenced production at the Niobrara oil and gas project in Kansas, USA. Sixteen wells are expected to be producing by early May.
Ithaca Energy (IAE) has reported a reserves increase and acquired Shell and Esso's combined 66.67% interests in the in the Stella and Harrier Shallow discoveries which lie in UKCS Block 30/6.
Peru focused Maple Energy (MPLE) intends to raise $20 million in a private placement with institutional investors.
Faroe Petroleum (FPM) is to swap 10% of its Glenshee licence covering blocks 217/21,22,26 and 216/30 for 10% of DONG E and P's Glenlivet licence in block 214/30.
Pan Andean (PRE) has farmed out Block 141 in the high plateau of Peru to Reliance Industries of India. Pan Andean will dilute its interest in Block 141 to 10%, in return for which Reliance Industries will incur all exploration costs through commercial discovery.
Colin Phipps has stepped down as Chairman of Desire Petroleum (DES) due to ill health and will be succeeded by his son Stephen Phipps.
John Dorrier and David DeCort have resigned as CEO and CFO of Gulfsands Petroleum (GPX) following a decision to relocate the company's principal offices to London from Houston. Gulfsands has also raised, for general corporate purposes, £9.35 million in a placing of new shares with Och Ziff Capital Management Group.
Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (FOGL) has dumped KBC Peel Hunt as NOMAD and Broker in favour of Oriel Securities.
And finally, Petro Matad Ltd (MATD) joined AIM this week. The Group's principal asset is 100% participation in a Production Sharing Contract over Block XX, a petroleum block covering an area of 18,956 square kilometres in eastern Mongolia. Hanson Westhouse is broker and NOMAD.
Source: SmallCapNewsUK