The last well, Doré-1, in offshore Mauritania’s current program will spud once the Zoule-1 exploration well is finished, according to Roc.

But CEO Dr John Doran said that initial results from Zoule-1 were not favourable.

“While final results of Zoule-1 will not be known for certain until logging operations have been completed, drill and measurement-while-drilling data gathered to date do not give any cause for optimism,” Doran said.

“Subsequent to Dore-1 and subject to all the usual industry vagaries, exploration and appraisal drilling is expected to resume offshore Mauritania in the second quarter of 2006.”

Elsewhere in Africa, Roc says the ongoing interpretation of seismic acquired over onshore Cabinda, Angola, was encouraging for exploration.

“Preliminary mapping of four of the more than half a dozen potential target horizons indicates that most of the 33 wells drilled in the 1,075 square kilometre permit area prior to 1972 were either invalid structural tests or not optimally located on the structures,” Doran said.

“Additionally two of three existing wells within the permit that yielded hydrocarbon flows on drill string testing were favourably located in respect to structural closure, with the other well still to be determined.”

Currently, Roc is waiting on responses to invitations to tender for seismic and drilling work in 2006.

Meanwhile in offshore Equatorial Guinea, Roc – as technical manager of blocks H15 and H16 in the deep water Rio Muni Basin, offshore Equatorial Guinea – says it is negotiating with potential rig contractors to drill the Aleta Cretaceous channel sand prospect in the third quarter of 2006.