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The Falkland Islands' potential oil areas comprise of the North Falkland Basin to the North and the South Falkland Basin (SFB) to the South and South East of the Islands. Six wells were drilled in the North Falkland Basin (NFB) in 1998; five of which had oil and gas shows (including one which recovered live oil to surface) and one dry well. View our exploration history page for more information.

The first well of the ongoing campaign was spudded in February 2010 and has comprised of 16 wells (including the first well to be drilled in the South Falklands Basin) and 2 associated well tests. 2012 will see further exploration in the South Falklands Basin, as Borders & Southern and Falkland Oil & Gas prepare a minimum total of three wells. View our current exploration page for more information.

For more information on licences, visit our production licence page or our exploration licence page (please note, exploration licences are designed for seismic and oceanographic surveys or similar, general oil exploration is covered under production licences).

More information and downloads on the regulatory framework are available in our health & safety, environmental and fiscal regime sections

If you are an existing operator you can download any of our Petroleum Operations Notices here.

All pages contain links to relevant downloads, but if you still can't find what you are looking for all the documents available for download on this website are listed here. Alternatively, view our contact page for links and information on how to get in touch with us.

What's New?

February 2012

The Ocean Guardian drilling campaign came to an end with the completion of Rockhopper Exploration's Sea Lion/Beverley well in late December. The well penetrated four different prospects: Beverley, Casper South, Casper and Sea Lion. Beverley and Casper South were declared gas and gas and oil discoveries respectively, while the appraisal of Sea Lion and Casper proved successful with 8m and 2.4m of net oil pay respectively. Meanwhile, Borders & Southern Petroleum's drilling campaign is expected to start in early February as the deep-water rig Leiv Eiriksson prepares to spud on the Darwin prospect. The Leiv Eiriksson will drill a total of four wells to the South and East of the Falklands; two for Borders & Southern and two for Falklands Oil & Gas Limited. For more information please visit our current exploration page.