The Designated Exploration Area (location map) covers over 400 000 Km2, and is therefore almost as big as Texas and about 50% bigger than the UK North Sea. The rather oddly-shaped area is based on a preexisting fisheries conservation zone; the western boundary of the area is more or less coincident with the eastern limits of the Argentine EEZ.
The Designated Area is subdivided into Quadrants based on one degree of latitude by one degree of longitude (Map of Quadrants/Blocks), each of which is subdivided into thirty Blocks. The numbering system used for the quadrants and blocks is similar to that in the UK North Sea, and wells are numbered in a similar fashion; for example, 14/09-1 refers to the first well in Quadrant 14, Block 09.
Fig.1: Falkland Islands Dsignated Exploration area