In a statement to the market, Roc said yesterday that the Atwood Hunter rig was about to spud the Petronas-operated Khop-1 exploration well in PSC Area C, Block 6, located about 70km off the Mauritanian coast.

Khop-1 will test the dominant structural feature in Block C6 – a 220-square kilometre four-way dip structure with a vertical closure of 1200sq.km.

Recoverable oil reserves are estimated at between 100 million barrels (P90) to 1MMbbl (P10).

Drilling of the well, which is located in 925m, is expected to reach a total depth of 4320m by next month.

Following Khop-1, the Atwood Hunter will move to PSC Area B to appraise the 2002 Banda gas and oil discovery.

Petronas – Malaysia’s national oil company – became operator of these permits, after agreeing to pay $US418 million for all of Woodside’s Mauritanian petroleum assets in September.

Roc Oil holds a 5% stake in PSC Area C, Block 6, and a 3.69% stake in PSC Area B.