The well is scheduled for full production next month. "This is a very good result because Saltfleetby-6 has long been recognised as the riskiest appraisal well yet drilled in the field," Roc Oil CEO, Dr John Doran, said.

The company has also been busy in the small African nation of Mauritania. Before the festive season, Roc completed the acquisition of a 1360 sq km of 3D seismic survey in Block 7, offshore Mauritania. The survey, which commenced on 15 November 2001, was acquired with the PGS Ramform Valiant vessel. The data will be processed by Veritas in its London processing centre.

Roc has also received approval from Sonangol, the National Oil Company of Angola, to become the operator of Offshore Cabinda South Block.