(Ecofin Agency) - FAR Limited an Australia-based exploration company with assets in West and East Africa, has said that operator Cairn Energy and its Senegal joint venture partners have begun a new 3D seismic 2,603km² surveys over its Sangomar Deep, Sangomar and Rufisque permits, offshore Senegal. Energy-pedia reports

The Polarcus Adira 3D seismic vessel is to secure data in the northern and eastern parts of the permits along trend from existing mapped prospects where there is currently no 3D seismic data coverage. The survey is expected to also assist with the description of the existing SNE discovery.

Moreover data acquisition is expected to be completed in Q4 of 2015 and final processed products are to be delivered in mid-2016. This evaluation program comprises of three wells expected to start in early Q4 of 2015. Two assessment wells is to be drilled on the SNE discovery located In the Shelf Edge Play and the Bellatrix prospect will be evaluated with an exploration well. Bellatrix will be the first well to be drilled in the Buried Hills play and FAR considers it a highly prospective and the first exploration well to be drilled since the successful discovery of the SNE-1 and FAN-1 well

The FAN-1 and SNE-1 oil finds however encouraged FAR that further exploration drilling offshore Senegal may yield more success.