Falklands : Director of Mineral Resources August/September Report
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 27.09.2009 (Article Archived on 11.10.2009)
Desire Petroleum has announced that the company has signed a letter of intent with Diamond Offshore Drilling (UK) Ltd for the drilling unit the Ocean Guardian to undertake a drilling campaign in their acreage in the North Falkland Basin.
DEPARTMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES
Director’s Report for August/September 2009
By Phyl Rendell
(c) Crown Copyright
Desire Petroleum: Drilling Programme
Desire Petroleum has announced that the company has signed a letter of intent with Diamond Offshore Drilling (UK) Ltd for the drilling unit the Ocean Guardian to undertake a drilling campaign in their acreage in the North Falkland Basin. Desire Petroleum anticipate that the rig will start drilling wells in February 2010. This is very good news for the Falklands and will move the exploration programme forward in the northern area to establish whether there are commercial quantities of oil or gas there.
Desire Petroleum’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was approved by Executive Council in August and now that the company has identified a rig to work here, the required addendum giving details of the rig and the drilling programme can be prepared and forwarded to this Committee.
The Mineral Resources Department with the support of BGS, will work through all the necessary approvals that need to be in place before drilling starts.
Rockhopper Exploration: EIS
Rockhopper Exploration’s EIS will be considered at the meeting of Executive Council on 17 September and as with Desire Petroleum, it is anticipated that the company will also need to provide additional information in an addendum providing details of their drilling programme.
Department working with Licensees
Since the last committee meeting the Mineral Resources Department has maintained close links with all licensees. Monthly reports are received from the companies on their activities and all the companies are moving forward with their work programmes. Dr Phil Richards from BGS is well placed to meet with individual operators either at the BGS offices in Edinburgh or at the company offices in or near London.
Visit by FCO consultant
Mr Fred Rokitta, an FCO consultant reviewing safety and security provision in relation to an offshore drilling programme, visited the Islands from 3 – 11 August. He met with government officials with responsibility for offshore safety and security and emergency planning. He also met with Legislative Assembly members and MOD. FIG welcomes the support given by the FCO in preparing for a second drilling programme in Falklands’ waters.
FIG restructure
From 1st October the Department will be separate from the Department of Agriculture and run by the Director of Mineral Resources. Katrina Stephenson will move to the DOA. Thank you to Katrina for her work with Mineral Resources matters over the last four years and for so ably taking the minutes of this meeting.
17 September 2009
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