Houston-headquartered Atwood Oceanics has inked a one-well contract offshore northwest Africa with Kosmos Energy using the ultra-deepwater rig Atwood Achiever.
The contract, which includes six, one-well options, will start immediately, on completion of the well in progress under its existing contract with Kosmos, which is testing the Tortue field with partner BP.
Earlier this week, Kosmos said it is set to spud the Hippocampe well offshore Mauritania at the end of August.
The company’s exploration program off Mauritania and Senegal includes plans to drill three additional high impact wells targeting super giant prospects starting later this month, Andrew Inglis, Kosmos chairman and CEO said in the company’s Q2 2017 earnings call.
In December last year, BP announced it had signed agreements with Kosmos Energy to acquire a 62% working interest, including operatorship, of Kosmos’ exploration blocks in Mauritania and a 32.49% effective working interest in Kosmos’ Senegal exploration blocks.
Following its latest contract, the expected earliest availability of the Atwood Achiever is now March 2018, assuming no options are exercised, says Atwood. If all six options are exercised, the drilling program would be expected to extend until about December 2018.
Rob Saltiel, President and CEO of Atwood Oceanics, said: "We are pleased to extend our drilling operations for Kosmos Energy in Northwest Africa. Kosmos continues to be a valued client, and we appreciate their confidence in the Atwood Achiever."
Atwood owns 10 mobile offshore drilling units and is constructing two ultra-deepwater drillships.
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