UK-based operator Premier Oil resumed drilling on the Isobel Deep 14/20-1 well in the North Falkland Basin following repairs to the blowout preventer (BOP) stack.
Drilling operations on the Eirik Raude semisubmersible drilling rig were halted late April and the BOP removed after an equipment malfunction, said partner Rockhopper Exploration at the time.
Repairs to the BOP control system and re-testing of the BOP stack have now recompleted and drilling re-started 11 May.
During its time off the Isobel Deep location, the Eirik Raude spudded and suspended the Jayne East (14/15c-6) well on 29 April and spudded and suspended the Chatham (14/10-10) well on 4 May.
Isobel Deep in exploration license PL004a is Premier’s second exploration well in its 2015 campaign offshore the Falkland Islands, following a successful well on the Zebedee prospect.
When the well spudded, Rockhopper said, if successful, the well on Isobel Deep has the potential to open up a new development area, according to partner Rockhopper Exploration.
The well, part of an overall five to six well exploration campaign in the Falklands by Premier and Noble Energy under a rig sharing agreement, is being drilled using the Eirik Raude.
The Isobel/Elaine complex is estimated to contain mid case un-risked gross prospective resources, based on the operator’s estimates, of 243 MMbbl, partner Falklands Oil and Gas said.
Rockhopper Exploration says the complex as a whole in the area has gross mean prospective resources of just over 500 MMbbl.
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