Offshore staff
LONDON – Ophir Energy and BG Group have agreed to a rig share assignment for continuation of their 2013-2014 East Africa offshore drilling program.
Odjfell Drilling is the contract counterpart and drilling service contractor.
Since late December 2011, Ophir and BG have employed the drillshipDeepsea Metro I (DSM-1) for exploration and appraisal wells offshore Tanzania. Their contract for the rig had been due to expire in June but has now been extended for an additional 18 months.
During this period DSM-1 will drill wells for the two companies inTanzania blocks 1-3-4, and others for Ophir as operator in other blocks offshore Tanzania and Kenya, and for BG Group offshore Kenya.
Currently the rig is drilling the Ngisi-1 exploration well in block 4, the aim being to prove further gas volumes for a multi-field development tied into a proposed LNG plant in southern Tanzania.
Thereafter, a satellite exploration well could be drilled close to the Jodari discovery in block 1, followed by an appraisal well and a drillstem test in block 4. Then an outboard exploration well may be drilled on block 1 to test basin floor prospectivity, possibly in early September. Various outboard prospects are under evaluation for this well.
Once this next phase of the joint Tanzania program is complete, Ophir will assume operatorship of the drillship for exploration of its own in Tanzanian block 7, expected to target the Mlinzi strcuture.
5/09/2013
