UK independent Rockhopper Exploration has made a second oil discovery at its frontier Sea Lion play off the Falkland Islands.
The 14/10-9 exploration well drilled by semi-submersible Ocean Guardian on the Casper prospect proved a “high-quality reservoir package and oil column” with 18 metres of total net hydrocarbon pay, including a gas cap of 8.4 metres.
In addition, it struck good quality reservoir sands with oil shows at the adjacent Kermit prospect while also adding 36 metres of net oil pay with an appraisal of the Sea Lion main complex, where prospective resources are estimated at between 608 million and 1.2 billion barrels.
The probe, drilled about six kilometres to the south-west of the Sea Lion discovery well, was intended to test prospectivity on the southern edge of licence PL032, which Rockhopper operates with a 100% interest.
The London-listed explorer now intends to sidetrack the well to core both the Casper and Sea Lion formations.
“The result of this well will significantly increase our minimum case area for SLMC up towards our previously mapped mid-case. This, combined with the Casper discovery will, we believe, have a very positive impact for our low-case volumes in place on our acreage,” said chief executive Samuel Moody.
“The presence of gas within Casper should prove a benefit to any Sea Lion and Casper developments,” he added.
Elsewhere off the Falklands, Rockhopper is lining up a well in licence PL004b, targeting the southern extremity of Sea Lion as well as the Beverley prospect, having gained regulatory approval for the transfer of operatorship from Desire Petroleum following a recent farm-in deal.
