On completing this operation, the ‘Stena Tay’ rig will move to the Dore-1 well in PSC B, Block 4. The Dore prospect, in about 390 metres of water, is about 20 kilometres east of the Tiof field, and 30 kilometres north of the Chinguetti field.

With a planned total depth of 2,350 metres, Dore-1 will target Oligocene aged submarine channel/turbidite sands, as well as encountering the updip extension of the Tiof Miocene canyon system.

After completing Dore-1, the Stena Tay drilling rig will be released by the PSC A and B Joint Ventures, Hardman managing director Simon Potter said.

“With the recognition of a number of attractive prospects in the shallower, eastern part of PSC A and B, a rig capable of drilling in shallower water depths than the targets of the 2004 and 2005 programs was required,” Potter said.

“The ‘Atwood Hunter’, which is capable of drilling from approximately 100 to 1500 metres, has been contracted to conduct the PSC A and B 2006 and 2007 drilling campaigns and is due to arrive in Mauritania in the second quarter of 2006 after completing its current commitments.”

Potter said the initial exploration wells will be drilled in PSC A and were likely to include the Colin/Colin Deep, Kibaro and Awatt prospects. Hardman’s 2006 Mauritania exploration program is expected also to include wells in PSCs B, 7 and 8.

“The Atwood Hunter provides the joint ventures with significant operational flexibility as it is able to carry out work on any of the Chinguetti development wells, if ever required, as well as conducting appraisal on existing discoveries,” Potter said.

Interests in the PSC C block (which includes Dorade) are: Woodside group companies 48%, Hardman group companies 28.8%, Energy Africa 20% and Roc 3.2%.