Falkland Islands oil exploration stirs South Atlantic tensions

摘要

THE RISING level of protests from Argentina over upstream activity offshore the Falkland Islands suggests ownership of the world's next big oil province is at stake. But prospects in the South Atlantic waters off the disputed islands remain highly speculative. The trigger for an escalation in tensions was the imminent arrival of the Ocean Guardian semi-submersible drilling rig, which was delivered to Falklands waters in mid-February after a journey of more than two months from Scotland. The rig then embarked on a 30-day drilling programme in the North Falklands basin, at a field operated by Desire Petroleum - one of a handful of companies with rights to drill in territorial waters around the UK-controlled islands.