The junior explorer has just completed a 7,750 sq.km 2D seismic shoot off the coast of French Guyane.

Hardman was awarded the "Guyane Maritime" Exclusive Exploration Licence in June 2001. The permit, administered under French legislation and regulations, covers the entire offshore zone from the 12 mile limit to the 3,000m water depth, a total area of 65,000 sq.km. Hardman has a 97.5% interest in the licence.

Hardman said the data quality was very good and processing should be completed by May 2003. The survey will be used to delineate further leads already identified and define potentially giant prospects to enable Hardman to farmout the next phase of deep water drilling, the company said.

Hardman managing director, Ted Ellyard, said the French Guyane is part of its strategy of acquiring international acreage in under-explored but prosective regions.

"Four years ago, the Mauritania deep-water basin was at a similar stage of exploration. We now hope to repeat our Mauritania success in Guyane, through a technically sophisticated exploration program," Ellyard said.