REG - Rockhopper Exp plc - Confirmation of FEED contract for Sea Lion <Origin Href="QuoteRef">RKH.L</Origin>

Rockhopper ExplorationAnnouncement

06/09/2014 14:43

For best results when printing this announcement, please click on the link
below:

http://pdf.reuters.com/Regnews/regnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20140711:nRSK0429Ma


RNS Number : 0429M
Rockhopper Exploration plc
11 July 2014 
 
Embargoed for release 7.00 am: 11 July 2014 
 
Rockhopper Exploration plc ("Rockhopper" or the "Company") 
 
Confirmation of FEED contract for Sea Lion 
 
Rockhopper Exploration plc is pleased to confirm that Premier Oil, operator of
the Sea Lion field in the North Falkland Basin in which Rockhopper holds a 40
per cent interest, has now formally awarded the Tension Leg Platform (TLP)
Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract to AMEC. 
 
As Premier confirmed in its recent IMS, pre-development activities on the Sea
Lion project continue to progress, and on the TLP, following the functional
specification and basis of design being finalized, the award of the FEED
contract to AMEC has now been made. In the second half of the year, a
geotechnical survey will be performed at the Sea Lion location and the results
of this will be incorporated into the FEED process, which is expected to take
around 12 months to complete. 
 
Sam Moody, CEO, commented: 
 
"We are delighted that the FEED contract for the Sea Lion field has been
formally awarded to a world class engineering firm such as AMEC. This is a
highly significant milestone in our plans to develop the discovery and comes
on the back of our recent announcement that a rig has been signed to undertake
a new exploration drilling campaign in the North Falkland Basin early next
year.  We look forward to continuing to work closely with Premier as we move
the Sea Lion project towards Final Investment Decision." 
 
Ends. 
 
For further information, please contact: 
 
Rockhopper Exploration plc 
 
Tel: (via Vigo Communications) - 020 7016 9571 
 
Sam Moody - Chief Executive 
 
Canaccord Genuity Limited (NOMAD and Joint Broker) 
 
Tel: 020 7523 8000 
 
Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor 
 
Liberum Capital (Joint Broker) 
 
Tel: 020 3100 2227 
 
Clayton Bush 
 
Vigo Communications 
 
Tel: 020 7016 9571 
 
Peter Reilly 
 
Patrick d'Ancona 
 
Notes to Editors: 
 
Rockhopper was established in February 2004 with a strategy to invest in and
carry out offshore oil exploration to the north of the Falkland Islands. The
Company floated on AIM in August 2005. 
 
An extensive work programme was 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. 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 Sea Lion during
April and May 2010, the result of which was the first oil discovery and
Contingent Resource in the North Falkland Basin. The Sea Lion discovery well
was successfully tested during September 2010 and resulted in the first flow
of oil to surface in Falkland Islands waters. Rockhopper's drilling campaign
lasted from 16 April 2010 to 8 January 2012. Of the ten wells drilled, seven
were successful, with three oil discoveries, three gas discoveries, multiple
successful Sea Lion appraisal wells and a successful appraisal well on
Casper. 
 
In October 2012 Rockhopper completed a farm-out agreement with Premier Oil
plc, whereby Premier Oil acquired 60% of Rockhopper's interests in its North
Falkland Basin licences. 
 
In October 2013 Rockhopper agreed with Falkland Oil and Gas to farm-in to
licences PL004a and PL004c increasing the Company's interest in those licences
to 24%. 
 
Rockhopper currently has a 40% interest in licences PL032 and PL033 and a 24%
interest in licences PL004a, PL004b and PL004c, all of which are operated by
Premier Oil. PL004b contains the extension to the Sea Lion Field as well as
the Beverley, Casper and Casper South discoveries. Rockhopper also has a 3%
interest in PL003, operated by Falkland Oil & Gas. 
 
Rockhopper Exploration plc www.rockhopperexploration.co.uk 
 
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange