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    Dragon switches platform locations offshore Turkmenistan

    Nov. 7, 2013
    Dragon Oil says the new Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) A platform has been installed in the Cheleken Contract Area (CCA) in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea.

    Offshore staff

    ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan – Dragon Oil says the new Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) A platform has been installed in the Cheleken Contract Area (CCA) in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. The facility is ready for drilling pending the arrival of Land Rig 2.

    However, under a change of plan, Dragon is relocating the Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) B platform to the Dzheitune (Lam) field.

    Delays with the delivery of Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) A mean that two platforms would have been shipped in at the same time. Dragon has opted therefore to transfer Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) B platform to the Dzheitune (Lam) field, to accelerate production from known areas there.

    It could take a year to perform the required structural modifications and to install the platform in the revised location. Installation would likely coincide with the delivery of Land Rig 3.

    Dragon Oil has performed structural upgrades on another CCA platform,Dzheitune (Lam) 22, allowing further drilling slots to be added so that more targets can be accessed. Similar work is scheduled for the Dzheitune (Lam) B, C, 28, 10 and 4 platforms, the aim being to optimize development plans and accelerate production from these areas

    In the Mediterranean Sea offshore Tunisia, the Cooper Energy-operatedHammamet West-3 appraisal well is being suspended. Dragon has contributed 75% of the costs of the well under a farm-in arrangement.

    Initial production testing of Sidetrack-1 confirmed the presence of open hydrocarbon bearing fractures, but could not be completed due to blockages and obstructions caused by lost circulation material.

    Dragon adds that Sidetrack-2 can be drilled in the Abiod formation from the original Hammamet West-3 wellbore to intersect previously identified fractures and to reach the originally targeted fracture zone. A new rig will be brought in for this task as the contracted GSP jackup is due to be released.

    11/7/2013