The Dana Petroleum-led joint venture said the well was drilled to a total depth of 4,170 metres without encountering significant hydrocarbons.

Faucon-1 encountered a total of 96 metres of potential Cretaceous reservoir sands, including the 40 metres of reservoir sand reported last week.

Despite the result, the partners were upbeat about the findings.

"Any time you find net hydrocarbon pay in the Cretaceous in a previously undrilled area 140km from Chinguetti, you have to be encouraged,” Roc Oil CEO John Doran said.

“Exploration offshore Mauritania is still in its infancy. More than 50,000 square kilometres are barely scratched by the drill bit."

Hardman said the well helped the JV’s understanding of the southern extent of the Cretaceous basin.

“On the basis of current information, Faucon-1 is unlikely to be a stand-alone commercial discovery – the necessary combination of reservoir, source and trap – in the southernmost block of offshore Mauritania,” Hardman CEO Simon Potter said.

“The well has proven the existence of Cretaceous reservoir-quality sandstones and, subject to the results of the fluid analyses, materially extends the area of potential hydrocarbon charge. These results are significant for the other identified prospects with Hardman’s Block 1 and 2 acreage.”

Roc added that the composition of the hydrocarbon fluid encountered in Faucon-1 could not be finally determined until the downhole pressurised fluid samples recovered from the well were fully analysed in an onshore laboratory.

Located in 1,162 metres of water, Faucon-1 is 140km south of the Chinguetti Oil Field.

Upon completion of operations at Faucon-1 the rig will move to Block 6 for the drilling of the Zoule-1 exploration well.

Equities in Block 1 are: Dana Petroleum (60%); Tullow Oil (20%); Hardman Petroleum (18%); and Roc Oil (2%).

Meanwhile, across the other side of the continent at the Mputa-1 wildcat site in Block 2, Uganda, Hardman says the mobilisation and rig-up is complete. The rig is now now undergoing inspection and testing prior to rig acceptance and spudding of the well, Hardman said.

Mputa-1 will target a structural prospect with potential multiple objectives. The prospect was defined by the 2005 onshore seismic survey and oil seeps have been identified in the immediate area.

The planned total depth is about 1,100 metres. The well location is 220km northwest of the capital Kampala and onshore 8km from Lake Albert.

Equities in Block 2 are: Hardman (50%) and Tullow Oil (50%).