Exploration wells have been approved for the 2004 program in PSC Areas A and B, where two and three wells respectively will be drilled, and in PSC Block 2, where one well will be drilled.

All the selected exploration prospects have Miocene reservoir targets, but range from lower risk prospects within the two Miocene channel systems proven by the Chinguetti and Tiof discoveries, through to prospects that will test the new Miocene channel areas which have been mapped in the deep water parts of PSC Area A and PSC Block 2.

Work is continuing on finalising the prospect drilling list in PSC Areas A and B are expected to include the Tevet, Capitaine and Merou prospects with additional wells yet to be confirmed.

The development drilling program on Chinguetti will commence in the fourth quarter of 2004 and will involve up to six oil production wells, four water injection wells and one gas injection well in the Phase 1 Chinguetti Oil Development (PSC B).

“The exploration wells will target Miocene objectives, similar to those of the successful Chinguetti, Tiof and Banda discoveries and seek to identify other potential production opportunities," said Woodside chief operating officer, Keith Spence.

"The development and appraisal drilling is designed to assist the timely delivery of our recently approved US$600 million Phase 1 Chinguetti Oil Development and to further appraise last year's exciting Tiof oil discovery.”

The campaign will utilise two deep-water drilling rigs, the ‘Stena Tay’ and ‘West Navigator’, that will work in tandem and operate in water depths ranging from 300m to 1,700m. The rigs are expected to continue in Mauritania on development, exploration and appraisal drilling into the second half of 2005.

“The commitment to two drillships for a long duration is an indication of the joint venture’s view of the potential of the basin. This program will be wide ranging and has the potential to open up new Miocene prospect fairways and confirm that offshore Mauritania is a significant new petroleum province. The new 3D seismic surveys, which are either underway or planned for 2004, will enable the joint venture to follow up on success with rapid appraisal and new prospect drilling,” said Hardman’s managing director, Ted Ellyard.

“The forthcoming drilling program will be the largest drilling program to be conducted in Mauritania and would rank as one of the largest continuous deep water drilling programs by any joint venture in the world to date. The success of our 2003 drilling campaign in delivering oil fields of significant size such as Tiof, provides increasing confidence that the Mauritanian deep water will become a major oil and gas producing basin.”