HOUSTON--(
)--Vanco Brasil Exploração e Produção de Petróleo e Gás Natural Ltda., a wholly owned subsidiary of PanAtlantic Energy Group, is pleased to announce that the Company has commenced drilling operations, using the GSF Arctic I semi-submersible drilling unit, for its three-well drilling campaign on blocks BM-S-72 (SM-1100), BM-S-63 (SM-1036), and BM-S-71 (SM-1035), in the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil.PanAtlantic, through its Brazilian subsidiary Vanco Brasil Exploração e Produção de Petróleo e Gás Natural Ltda., holds a 70% participating interest in the concessions, together with Panoro Energy do Brasil Ltda. 15% and Brasoil Round 9 Exploração Petrolífera Ltda. 15%.
As announced in May 2012, PanAtlantic Energy Group has succeeded and replaced Vanco Overseas Energy Group, with the name change to reflect its major asset base and areas of focus along the Latin American and African margins of the Atlantic Ocean. PanAtlantic holds deepwater exploration assets in Brazil, West Africa and the Black Sea.