Offshore staff
CALGARY, Canada – Canadian Natural says a light crude oil infill drilling program planned for the Espoir field offshore Côte d’Ivoire has been delayed. This is because the drilling rig is being demobilized due to operational and safety issues with the drilling contractor.
The company is reassessing its drilling options atEspoir, where it plans an eight-well program.
Earlier this year the company acquired a 60% operating interest in offshore block 12, 35 km (21.7 mi) west of Espoir and Baobab. It expects to start 3D seismic acquisition here during the fall, followed potentially by exploration drilling in 2015 targeting deepwater channel/fan structures.
On block 514 off Côte d’Ivoire, where Canadian Natural has a 36% interest, a seismic program has been completed and drilling could start in the first half of next year. This block also could be prospective for deepwater channel/fan structures similar toJubilee offshore Ghana.
Elsewhere, the company has chosen a partner to jointly drill its license offshore South Africa.
In the UK northern North Sea, a two-well infill drilling program on theTiffany field, which benefited from the UK’s Brownfield Allowance, delivered first oil in May.
8/8/2013
