Falkland Islands oil and gas explorer Rockhopper Exploration has said a new drilling campaign is planned for 2014 in the remote British-governed region.
The firm, responsible for the giant Sea Lion find in the North Falkland Basin (NFB), said an invitation to tender was being prepared to find a rig for the work, which would involve at least three wells.
Its previous drilling campaign was run by AGR out of Aberdeen using the Ocean Guardian rig.
Rockhopper also said it hoped a decision would be made in the second quarter over how Sea Lion will be developed. It is hoped the project will then be approved next year, with first oil in 2017.
Rockhopper will be working with Premier Oil on the development after it took a 60% interest in and operatorship of the smaller group’s NFB interests last July. Plans for the estimated £1.87billion development include a floating production vessel and separate offloading tanker, with 22 production wells, 13 water-injection and a gas-injection well from three subsea centres.
Production is expected to peak at 80,000-85,000 barrels of oil per day with further satellite fields expected to be drilled.
Tension in the region has risen in recent weeks with Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner calling on Britain to relinquish control of the islands.