Rockhopper Exploration provides an update on operations at its 26/6-1 exploration well drilling the Ernest prospect.

The company can confirm that the well has reached a depth of 2240 metres and logging operations have commenced.

Initial logs confirm that no hydrocarbons have been encountered at the well location and that the well is a dry hole.

The well was drilled approximately 120km from the Sea Lion discovery in a previously undrilled part of the basin, and was testing a different play type from that encountered at Sea Lion. The well encountered good quality sands with high porosity and permeability.

The company intends to undertake detailed post-well studies of all data and information gathered from the well once all samples have been returned to the United Kingdom and analysed in a specialist laboratory.

A further announcement will be made once all operations have been completed.

Sam Moody, Managing Director of Rockhopper Exploration, commented, 'The result of Ernest is disappointing, but the well was always designed to investigate an entirely different geological play type from Sea Lion, to which our focus now turns. Once operations are complete at Ernest, our intention, subject to the usual regulatory consents, is to test the Sea Lion discovery and gain as much information from the well as possible as we continue to plan a potential appraisal campaign.'

Tags: Rockhopper Exploration plc