Drilling finds oil and gas off Falklands as Argentina marks war anniversary

Two British companies have revealed they have made the first oil and gas discovery at a well off the Falkland Islands after a nine-month drilling campaign. Premier Oil Plc and Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd said the find at the Zebedee well was better than expected. They said that 24.6 metres of net-oil bearing reservoir and 16.7 metres of net gas-bearing reservoir were found at the well, the first of six which form part of the Sea Lion drilling campaign started in March by Rockhopper and the two companies. The well will now be plugged and abandoned as a successful exploration well and the rig will be moved to the Isobel Deep well in the southern part of the North Falkland Basin. Results from that well are expected by the end of April.

We are delighted to announce the discoveries in the Hector and Zebedee fans, which extend the play fairway further south from Sea Lion and the satellites.

Andrew Lodge, exploration director at Premier Oil

Andrew Lodge, exploration director at Premier Oil, said: “We now look forward to the results of the upcoming Isobel Deep well, potentially the highest impact well in this campaign.” The discovery is likely to exacerbate tensions between the UK and Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, known as Las Malvinas in South America. Argentina President Cristina Fernandez is expected to address a ceremony on Thursday to mark the 33rd anniversary of the invasion of the Falkland Islands. The Falklands War ended on 14 June 1982, with 255 British service personnel and 649 Argentine military personnel killed during the conflict. Three people living on the islands were also killed.

World Falklands