LONDON (ShareCast) - Shell and its partners have started drilling the second of four oil wells in the Guyane Maritime Permit in French Guiana.

Shell holds 45% in the Guyane Maritime offshore exploration licence along with Total (25%), Tullow Oil (27.5%), Northern Petroleum (1.25%) and Wessex Exploration (1.25%).

The GM-ES-3 well in the programme has been located to test the Priodontes Prospect and provide further geological data critical to gaining a better understanding of the potential of this area as a new offshore oil province.

The operation follows the exploration programme’s GM-ES-1 well which encountered 72 metres of net oil pay in two turbidite sand systems.

The GM-ES-2 was the first exploration well in the programme but failed to encounter commercial hydrocarbons.

Derek Musgrove, Managing Director of Northern, said: "The joint venture with Shell, Total, Tullow and Wessex is continuing upon its vigorous follow up of the successful GM-ES-1 discovery in late 2011.”

“This is the second well in the four well programme to assess the potential of the offshore of Guyane as a new oil province. I look forward to updating shareholders on progress in the coming months.”

RD

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