Cairn's Senegal drilling delayed

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Australian explorer Far Ltd. reported on 10 June that the Cairn-operated FAN-1 exploration well offshore Senegal is delayed for maintenance work and the drilling program was being modified.

"Having set 13-3/8in. casing in the FAN-1 well ahead of drilling into the two main objectives, the maintenance work is expected to take approximately 12 days. As a result of essential rig maintenance, the FAN-1 well completion date has been delayed and the estimated cost to complete the FAN-1 well is expected to exceed the original estimates and AFE by Operator."

The well was spud in mid-April using Transocean's fifth-generation semisubmersible Cajun Express, and was originally expected to be drilled in two months.

As of May 7, the FAN-1 well had been drilled to 1200m below the seabed and 20in. casing was cemented, completing the top hole portion of the well. The rig was then moblized to the SNE-1 location to drill the top hole there. As of May 16, the top hole section of SNE-1 was completed and the rig had returned to FAN-1 to continue drilling deeper.

The FAN-1 well is designed to test the North Fan prospect in 1427m water depth in the Sangomar Deep block, about 100km offshore Senegal. The SNE-1 well will test the Shelf Edge prospect in 1100m of water.

Cath Norman, FAR Managing Director, said: "Success in either of these two wells offshore Senegal will be significant and open the door to a large inventory of follow on drill targets creating sizable upside for the company and its partners."

Cairn is operator of the JV and both wells with 40% equity;  ConocoPhillips has 35%, FAR retains a 15% equity after farming out to Cairn, and the Government of Senegal (Petrosen) has 10%.

More details:

Drilling begins off Senegal after 20-year hiatus, 17 April 2014

Categories: Drilling Africa

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