It’s not over

We all breathed a collective sigh of relief when BPC announced that they did not find commercial quantities of oil in the Bahamas. Many of us expected them to pack up and leave the country.

Unfortunately, almost immediately after their announcement, they put out an announcement to their shareholders to say that they would be looking to continue to monetize their holdings in the Bahamas.

Post drilling sub-surface evaluation work has immediately commenced on a comprehensive post-well review, which includes cuttings analysis and geologic age dating, petrophysical analysis, gas chromatography and recalibration of the exploration play concepts. These learnings will be utilised to revise the stratigraphic and structural models as well as the extent of vertical closures and a revised play-type analysis. This extensive assessment will allow the Company to fully integrate the new Perseverance well data into an updated interpretation of the previously mapped prospect and lead inventory accessible within the licences, and more accurately inform and direct the focus of the Company’s forward strategy within its Bahamian exploration acreage portfolio.

Bahamas Petroleum Company RNS February 16 2021

Although the Stena IceMAX has left the Perseverance 1 drilling location and is no longer under hire according to BPC public reports, they are lurking in the Bahamas between New Providence and Grand Bahama.

The Stena IceMAX drill ship can be seen in the Bahamas up until March 9, 2021. They have turned off their positioning beacon that allows the public to track their location, but you can see their position via a paid account at www.vesselfinder.com.
Their continued presence implies that the drilling operations in the Bahamas are not over. At the very least, it raises significant questions.

1. Why are they still in the Bahamas and what is the purpose of their presence? As an industrial ship are they still legally here along with all of their staff under Bahamian legal frameworks for labor and industry?
2. Does this mean that BPC is preparing to punch another hole in the seabed, even closer to our sensitive marine habitats?
3. Will the government of the Bahamas involve local conservation and marine resource agents to be present during the discussions of the previous drilling results and any future activities?
4. Will our government finally ban oil exploration in the Bahamas?

You can support us by signing our petition to stop oil exploration in the Bahamas, to protect our wetlands, our oceans, our fisheries, our families Our Islands, Our future.