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Victoria Petroleum has entered into a farmin agreement with Black Rock Oil & Gas, whereby Black Rock will earn a 15% equity in exploration permit EP 325 and also an option to earn a 15% equity in the adjacent EP 41 Part 1 Block by participating in the drilling of the Champion-1 offshore exploration well.
The Champion-1 exploration well is planned too be drilled in November 2004 to a total depth of 2,050 meters to test the Champion Prospect, a seismically defined anticlinal structure interpreted to have the potential to contain up to 27 million barrels of recoverable oil, if oil is present.
The Champion Prospect is situated 12 kilometers south of the up to 21 billion cubic feet Rivoli Gas Field discovery with its 11 metre gas column within the Birdrong Sandstone, the reservoir target for the Champion-1 well. The target Birdrong Sandstone in Champion-1 is expected to be drilled at a depth of 1,950 meters. The Birdrong Sandstone is a prolific oil producer in the Carnarvon Basin.
Under the terms of the farmin agreement between Black Rock and Victoria, Victoria will have a 3.75% free carried interest through the drilling and testing of the Champion-1.

The 15% interest being earned to by Black Rock in EP 325 is subject to completion of the Champion-1 drilling and testing famin work program and subject to the normal Joint Venture and Government approvals. Mr. John Kopcheff, Managing Director of Victoria Petroleum NL commented that "Victoria Petroleum NL welcomes Black Rock into the permit, the first company to join with Victoria Petroleum NL and Sun Resources NL in the planned November 2004 drilling of the Champion-1 well in EP 325". "The presence of the Rivoli Gas Field discovery in the Permit provides favorable evidence for the potential presence of gas and oil within other prospects within the permit such as the Champion Prospect". "Victoria Petroleum NL considers the Champion Prospect to be a robust structure and arguably the last undrilled four way dip closed structure in the Carnarvon Basin close into shore and in the shallow water depth of 18 meters."The Champion Prospect has longed been considered by Victoria Petroleum to have significant oil bearing potential".

Following this agreement with Black Rock Oil & Gas PLC, interests in the Champion Prospect and EP 325 including the Rivoli Gas Field are:

Victoria Petroleum N.L. 75%
Black Rock Oil & Gas PLC 15%
Sun Resources N.L. 10%
Victoria Petroleum NL is the operator for EP 325.

Source: Victoria Petroleum

Furious Scots oil workers hit out after they were blamed for an outbreak of salmonella poisoning on a Nigerian rig. Around 100 members of staff have been struck down by the debilitating illness on the Bonga platform.

Workers have appealed to their bosses at oil firms Amec and Shell to take action to stop the virus from spreading any further. But they were stunned when representatives from the companies hit out at the workforce and ordered them to improve hygiene standards.

Jake Molloy, of the offshore workers' union the Oil Industry Liason Committee has been in touch with the men in Nigeria via e-mail. He said: "Shell told the workers they only have themselves to blame for the salmonella because of their poor hygiene. "It's a ridiculous response and the workers are becoming very frustrated with the lack of attention given to them by their employers. "They seem to be doing very little for the guys who are becoming extremely angry and concerned for their health."

The salmonella infection has erupted on the multi-million pound Bonga project - the world's largest floating production unit - off the coast of Nigeria. Around two weeks ago employees started showing signs of what they thought was a stomach bug, but tests confirmed they are suffering from salmonella.

Frank Stokes, spokesman for contractors Amec, who employ the majority of staff on the Bonga project, said: "We are not in a position to comment on what caused the bug."

Source: 2dayuk

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