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Drilling Update - Rachel well
Drilling Update - Rachel well.
About this update from Rockhopper Exploration Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n RNS Number : 4327V Rockhopper Exploration plc 02 November 2010 \n\nEmbargoed: 0700hrs, 2 November 2010\n \nRockhopper Exploration plc\n \n(\"Rockhopper\" or the \"Company\")\n \nRachel well - UPDATE\n \nRockhopper Exploration plc (AIM: RKH), the North Falkland Basin oil and gas exploration company, notes the following announcement from Desire Petroleum plc (the \"Operator\") regarding the 14/15-1Z sidetrack well on the Rachel prospect (Rockhopper: 7.5% working interest):\n \nClean out of the sidetrack has not proved possible due to mechanical failure of the wellbore and it will therefore not be possible to obtain any wireline logging data from this well. However, the data acquired during drilling operations (from logging while drilling tools and geological data from cuttings) indicates that around 25 metres of sand with oil shows was encountered. However, in the absence of wireline logging data it is not possible to fully assess the significance of these results and, in particular, reservoir properties and the hydrocarbon saturations associated with these sands cannot be confirmed.\n \nThe current well will be plugged and abandoned prior to moving the drilling rig to a new location on the Rachel prospect.\n \nThe data collected from both the Rachel main bore and sidetrack will allow the selection of an optimum location to drill a vertical well to further evaluate the potential of the Rachel prospect and undertake a comprehensive logging programme. Undertaking the logging programme in a vertical well should avoid the geomechanical problems encountered in the sidetrack which were shown to be a consequence of drilling a deviated wellbore in an area where very little regional stress data is currently available.\n \nThis proposed move to another location on the Rachel prospect is subject to obtaining all necessary regulatory and partner approvals in a short time frame.\n \nEnquiries:\n \nRockhopper Exploration plc\nSam Moody - Chief Executive\nTel. +44 (0)20 7920 2340 (via M: Communications)\n \nM: Communications\nPatrick d'Ancona or Ben Simons\nTel. +44 (0)20 7920 2340\n \nCanaccord Genuity Limited\nCharles Berkeley / Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor\nTel. +44 (0) 20 7050 6500\n \nNotes to Editors\n \nRockhopper was established in February 2004 with ...