Cairn Energy and its partners have contracted a rig to drill two appraisal wells on the world class SNE oil field offshore Senegal in 2017.
The wells - SNE-5 and SNE-5 - will be drilled using the Stena DrillMAX drillship, starting Q1. The contract includes options for further wells.
The wells have been designed to evaluate the connectivity of the SNE upper reservoir units and depositional model, already interpreted from existing wells and high quality 3D seismic data.
This information will be used to optimize the SNE field development plan before submission to the Government of Senegal for approval.
Partner Far says the joint venture is progressing towards the submission of a development plan for the SNE field as quickly and efficiently as possible, with pre-front end engineering and design activities currently focused on determining the final project size and scope.
Far managing director, Cath Norman, said: “The Stena Drillmax has completed an efficient drilling program elsewhere offshore West Africa and is currently located in Las Palmas. After a rigorous tender process, our joint venture has been able to secure the rig at a very attractive operating day rate, reflecting current market conditions and at a substantially lower cost than our two previous drilling campaigns. We look forward to providing updates in the coming weeks regarding expected spud date."
The Stena DrillMAX is a DP3 drillship able to work in up to 3000m water depth and down to 10,700m drilling depth. It is 228m-long and has accommodation for 180 people.
The vessel has a dual hoisting mast and drilling tower, two BOP systems and capability to store 85,000 bo.
Far says the Senegal joint venture has taken advantage of favorable market conditions and reduced deep water rig rates to secure the Stena DrillMAX drill ship at a highly competitive operational day rate, significantly lower than previously achieved with the Ocean Rig Athena.