Falkland Islands Offshore Exploration History
| Year | Activity |
| 1970-80 | A range of mostly academic studies were undertaken, culminating in drilling of the three DPSP boreholes on the Maurice Ewing Bank, proving the existence of potential oil source rocks in the area. |
| 1977 | Western 2D Survey |
| 1978 | GSI Speculative 2D survey |
| 1993 | Geco/Prakla speculative 2D survey |
| 1995 | Spectrum infill 2D survey |
| 1996 | IPC proprietary 2D survey |
| 1996 | Competitive round production licences (invited rounds only). |
| 1996 | North Falkland Basin (NFB): Seven Production Licences were awarded (to 14 companies) as a result of a competitive bidding round. The licences covered 48 blocks (some 12,800 square kilometres). |
| 1997 | Amerada Hess proprietary 2D surveyLasmo proprietary 2D surveyShell proprietary 2D & 3D surveySCA 2D survey |
| 1998 | Desire Petroleum proprietary 2D survey |
| 1998 | Borgny Dolphin drilling campaign (semi-sub exploration rig).Six wells were drilled in the North Falkland Basin in 1998. |
| 1999 | NFB: Several phases of relinquishments and operator changes to original licence areas. |
| 2000 | FIG initiated “Open Door” production licences. |
| 2000/1 | Desire & IPCL 2D survey |
| 2001/2 | Southern Falkland Basin (SFB): Ten Production Licences covering 232 blocks awarded to the Falklands Hydrocarbon Consortium (Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd and Hardman Resources), with Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd (FOGL) as operator. |
| 2002/3 | Swath Bathymetry collection |
| 2003 | Two licences and 37 blocks (90 blocks in total), relinquished by the Falklands Hydrocarbon Consortium (Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd and Hardman Resources) as per licence conditions. |
| 2004 | SFB: Five licences covering 80 blocks awarded to Borders and Southern Petroleum Ltd.NFB: Two licences covering 16 blocks awarded to Rockhopper Exploration.Falkland Plateau Basin (FPB): Seven licences, covering 195 blocks over 7 Quadrants awarded to Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd. |
| 2004 | NFB: Desire 3D survey.FOGL 2D GSI collection |
| 2005 | NFB: Two new licences covering 6 blocks (previously relinquished by Shell & Agip) awarded to Rockhopper Exploration.FOGL/Hardman relinquished a further 18 blocks as per their licence agreement. |
| 2005 | Open door licensing suspended. |
| 2005 | SFB: Borders and Southern 2D GSI collection. |
| 2006 | SFB: FOGL relinquished 50% of their licence holding in their 2002 licences held jointly with Hardman Resources. This relinquishment was required by the Falkland Islands Government in exchange for changes to the agreed work programme. |
| 2006 | NFB: Rockhopper 2D CSEM survey. |
| 2007 | NFB: Rockhopper 3D survey.FPB: FOGL CSEM survey. |
| 2007 | FOGL relinquished PL030, followed by 25% of the remainder of their 2004 licences.BHP Billiton farmed into all FOGL acreage. |
| 2007/8 | SFB: Borders and Southern 3D survey. |
| 2008 | A new licence covering 2.25 blocks in the southern part of the North Falkland Basin awarded to Desire Petroleum in association with Arcadia Petroleum. |
| 2010 | NFB: Argos & Desire (Rockhopper) 3D surveys. |
| 2011 | FOGL 2D Survey + Site survey |
| 2010/11 | Ocean Guardian Drilling Campaign Sea Lion Discovery Area declared by Rockhopper. |
| 2012 | Leiv Eiriksson drilling campaignDarwin East-1 Discovery Area declared by Borders and Southern. |
| 2012 | FPB: Edison and Noble Energy farm into the FOGL acreage in the Falkland Plateau Basin. |
| 2012/13 | SFB: Borders and Southern 3D surveySFB: Noble Energy Falklands 3D survey |
| 2012/13 | NFB: Premier Oil farm into the Rockhopper acreage and approved as operator of the acreage via Premier Oil Exploration and Production Limited (POEPL). |
| 2013 | The Government extended Phase 1 terms of “Open Door” licences; Phase 2 was also extended.FPB: Noble appointed operator of FOGL’s northern licences. |
| 2013-15 | Desire purchased by FOGL; FOGL purchased by Rockhopper Exploration plc. |
| 2015-16 | Eirik Raude drilling campaign. |
| 2021 | Premier Oil merges into Harbour Energy. |
| 2022 | NFB: Licence interest assignment of Rockhopper Acreage to POEPL and appointed operator of remaining Sealion licences.Navitas Petroleum acquire POEPL from Harbour Energy; POEPL renamed Navitas Petroleum Development and Production Ltd (NPDP). |
| 2024 | Navitas EIS public consultation |
| 2025 | NPDP and Rockhopper granted approval for field development and production and take Final Investment Decision to invest in phases 1 and 2 Northern Development Area of the Sea Lion field. |
For more information, please contact
the Department of Mineral Resources
You’ll find our office hours, location, and full contact details below.