Diplomatic relations intensify over oil resources in Falklands

Diplomatic tension regarding sovereignty between Argentina and Britain has been heightened after Leiv Eiriksson and its accompanying vessels violated the borders of what Argentina denominates the nation's economic exclusion zone.

The Leiv Eiriksson platform was contracted by Borders & Southern Plc and Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd and joins a succession of rigs that have been exploring to the north of the islands since 2010. The platform is 120 metres long and 86 metres high and moves with the support of two ships.

The Leiv Eiriksson platform was spotted close to 200 miles from the Argentine continental shelf, which caused alarm among local authorities, and the rig has violated the economic exclusion zone since then.

According to Borders & Southern Plc and Falkland Oil and Gas the mission of the rig is to drill two deep wells to the south and southeast of the archipelago, at the edge of Argentina's national territory.

This is the first time the oil rig has violated the zone limits since international conflicts surfaced once again in January.

Posted by Claire Manning