Drilling Schedule - Update

RNS Number : 7088P

Rockhopper Exploration plc

21 July 2010

 



For immediate release: 21 July 2010

Rockhopper Exploration plc

("Rockhopper" or the "Company")

Drilling Schedule - Update

Rockhopper Exploration plc, the North Falkland Basin oil and gas exploration company, was re-assigned operation of the Ocean Guardian drilling rig at 09.00hrs local time on 21 July 2010.

The Ocean Guardian is currently being moved to the Company's Ernest prospect located on licence PL024 in the North Falkland Basin where, after arrival and mobilisation, it will drill the Ernest 26/6-1 Exploration Well (100% Rockhopper). Drilling operations on Ernest are expected to take approximately 30 days. A further announcement will be made on spudding of the well.

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 tests on the oil discovery.

Enquiries:

Rockhopper Exploration plc

Sam Moody - Managing Director

Tel. [phone] (via M: Communications)

M: Communications

Patrick dÕAncona or Ben Simons

Tel. [phone]

Canaccord Genuity Limited
Robert Finlay / Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor

Tel. [phone]

Notes to Editors

Rockhopper 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.

An 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. Rockhopper drilled an exploration well on its Sea Lion prospect during April and May 2010, the result of which is the first oil discovery and Contingent Oil Resource in the North Falkland Basin. The Company intends to drill its Ernest prospect shortly in addition to testing the Sea Lion discovery and participating in further wells with Desire.

Rockhopper Exploration plc www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk 

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