Business
Ernest 26/6-1 Exploration Wel
Ernest 26/6-1 Exploration Wel.
About this update from Rockhopper Exploration Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n RNS Number : 8197P Rockhopper Exploration plc 23 July 2010 \n\nFor immediate release: 23 July 2010\n \nRockhopper Exploration plc\n \n(\"Rockhopper\" or the \"Company\")\n \nErnest 26/6-1 Exploration Well Spud\n \nRockhopper Exploration plc (AIM: RKH), the North Falkland Basin oil and gas exploration company, is pleased to announce that the Ernest 26/6-1 Exploration Well was spudded at 05.15hrs BST on 23 July 2010.\n \nThe Ernest prospect is located on Licence PL024. Rockhopper will drill Ernest as operator with a 100% interest. The well is being drilled to an estimated target depth of circa 2,400 metres. Drilling operations are expected to take approximately 30 days and a further announcement will be made once drilling is completed.\n \nErnest is being drilled using the fourth rig slot in the overall drilling programme of the Ocean Guardian rig. On completion of the Ernest 26/6-1 Exploration Well, it is currently anticipated that the Ocean Guardian will return to Rockhopper's Sea Lion 14/10-2 Well (100% Rockhopper) to conduct flow testing on the oil discovery. \n \nEnquiries: \n \nRockhopper Exploration plc\nSam Moody - Managing Director\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\nRobert Finlay / Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor\nTel. +44 (0) 20 7050 6500\n \nNotes to Editors\n \nRockhopper was established in February 2004 with a strategy to invest in and carry out an offshore oil exploration programme to the north of the Falkland Islands. The Company floated on AIM in August 2005 and holds a 100 per cent. interest in four offshore production licences: PL023, PL024, PL032 and PL033 which cover approximately 3,800 sq. km. Rockhopper has also farmed in (7.5% working interest) to licences PL003 and PL004, which are operated by Desire Petroleum. These licences have been granted by the Falkland Islands government.\n \nAn extensive work programme has been carried out over a number of years on the licences operated by Rockhopper. This has included 2D and 3D Seismic and Controlled Source Electromagnetic Mapping (CSEM). In February 2010, the Ocean Guardian drilling rig arrived in Falkland waters to carry out a multi-well drilling campaign. Rockho...