Drillers return to the Falklands

摘要

After a two-year hiatus, oil drilling is set to return to the Falkland Islands this month as the region's explorers prepare for a high-stakes 2015 campaign crucial to the Falklands' oil hopes and those companies that have bet big on frontier exploration in the region. Low oil prices have led to industrywide spending cuts and seen drilling in many parts of the world cut back. but they have not not derailed the Falkland's explorers. At least $300 million will be spent this year to drill at least six wells in waters around the islands. The UK's Premier Oil has the most on the line in the campaign. The company operates four of the planned wells and will spend at least $150 million on exploration and appraisal drilling, around 70% of the company's overall exploration budget for 2015. Premier hopes the campaign will lead to further stages of development at its 240 million barrel Sea Lion discovery, the first commercial find in the Falklands, and open up a new stand-alone project.