S.Atlantic : DIRECTOR OF MINERALS AND AGRICULTURE REPORT FOR MARCH/APRIL
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Nathan Prince) 20.04.2009 (Current Article)

Borders & Southern Petroleum Limited (BSP), who successfully completed environmental surveys in their licensed area by contracting Benthic Solutions Limited to gather seabed samples in late 2008, are now analysing the data for inclusion in an Environmental Impact Assessment.

DIRECTOR OF MINERALS AND AGRICULTURE REPORT FOR MARCH/APRIL

2009

Offshore Surveys: Borders & Southern Petroleum Limited (BSP), who successfully completed environmental surveys in their licensed area by contracting Benthic Solutions Limited to gather seabed samples in late 2008, are now analysing the data for inclusion in an Environmental Impact Assessment.

BHP Billiton’s contract with M/V Fugro Meridian to conduct bathymetric and site surveys was completed in early February. A second survey carried out by M/V Fugro Saltire took geotechnical borings of the top 200m of sediment below the seabed. The data acquired, which will assist with well designs, ended on the 16 February 2009.

BGS Visit to Stanley and Houston: Dr. Phil Richards and Mr. Bob Gatliff, British Geological Survey consultants working for the Falkland Islands Government, visited Stanley in January to brief the Government on progress with offshore oil exploration. Phil Richards attended the NAPE convention in Houston after the Stanley visit and was accompanied by representatives from BSP and Rockhopper Exploration. He presented a paper at the meeting giving international companies details of opportunities available for investment in oil exploration in the Islands.

Environmental Impact Assessments submitted to FIG for Approval: Desire Petroleum Limited and Rockhopper Exploration Limited have both submitted Environmental Impact Assessments for approval by FIG. The EIA’s have been published for public comment and copies on CD Rom are available from the Department of Mineral Resources. Companies are required to have assessments approved before wells can be drilled.

London Meetings 23-25 March: Licensees held a joint operators’ meeting in London on Tuesday 24 March and invited the Director of Mineral Resources, FCO and BGS to attend. The meeting was extremely useful and addressed a number of issues related to drilling in the Islands. Individual company meetings with the Director of Mineral Resources were also conducted and Health & Safety Executive representatives came to London for a meeting to discuss arrangements for the assessment of rig safety cases.

Joint Operators’ Meeting: 6/7 May 2009: The Mineral Resources Department is preparing a programme for a joint operators’ meeting to be held here in Stanley in the second week of May. Discussion will continue on topics related to a drilling phase that were initiated at the London meeting in March. This is an excellent opportunity for companies to establish what is required to facilitate a successful second drilling campaign.