Noble Energy Inc. confirmed plans to resume exploration drilling in the Falkland Islands in 2015 following the acquisition and evaluation of an extensive 3-D seismic program over portions of the company’s 10 million-acre position, according to a press release. Noble’s initial operated prospect has been named Humpback and is located in the Fitzroy Sub-basin of the Southern Area License.

The Humpback prospect is one of multiple stacked fan prospects clustered together in the sub-basin. This group of prospects combined has an estimated gross unrisked resource potential of about 1 Bboe. The company anticipates drilling operations at Humpback to begin in mid-2015 dependent on rig arrival.

Noble is finalizing prospect locations for a second exploration well planned for later in 2015 following results at Humpback. Noble operates the licenses with a 35% working interest.

In addition, the Scotia well, which was drilled in 2012 using 2-D seismic interpretation, has been deemed noncommercial following evaluation of the 3-D seismic data and integration of well results into the company’s geologic models.