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 survey

Lasmo proprietary 2D survey

Shell proprietary 2D & 3D survey

SCA 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 campaign

Darwin 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 survey

SFB: 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.