Wireline logs have returned several gas samples from four separate sandstone intervals with Preliminary evaluation of the wireline logs and RCI pressure data indicating that Pelican-1 well has intersected a gross gas column of approximately 370m and within the gross interval a number of gas bearing sands are present.

Individual sands are generally thin with variable reservoir characteristics but occasionally are in the range of 5 to 10m thick with excellent reservoir quality.

The gas bearing sands are interpreted to be Lower Tertiary (Palaeocene) in age and are therefore older and geologically distinct compared to the Miocene aged sandstone system that hosts the Chinguetti, Tiof and Banda discoveries to the south.

"A further significant discovery in a real frontier part of the Mauritania deep water basin is a great way to complete a highly successful drilling program for 2003. Although we would have liked to see some oil in the sands, it is very early in the evaluation and in our understanding of the well results," said Hardman's managing director, Ted Ellyard.

"The fact that the well was located near the crest of a very large structure provides some hope that oil may yet be found on the flanks of the prospect or in deeper, as yet undrilled formations within the structure. That would require some further drilling and that decision is some months away."

"The discovery of high quality hydrocarbon bearing sands in the Pelican-1 well is welcome news for the Dana Petroleum joint venture and the Mauritanian people as it extends the Mauritanian deep water hydrocarbon province very substantially to the north and suggests the basin may become world class in terms of size and potential," said Ellyard.

Woodside Energy is managing the drilling of the well on behalf of the Block 7 operator, Dana Petroleum.

Participants in the Pelican-1 exploration well and PSC Block 7 are Dana Petroleum plc (Operator) 80%, Hardman Resources 18% and Roc Oil Company 2%.