Offshore staff
CALGARY, Canada -- Drilling operations on Cirrus Energy’s latest well offshore Netherlands have been suspended, due to insurmountable problems with running casing.
The setback affected the sidetrack on the A07 well for the L8-D development, which was spud by the jackup Noble Lynda Bossler on Dec. 30. A new hole was being drilled from 1,270 m (4,167 ft) measured depth to 2,066 m (6,778 ft), but casing could not be run.
“Rather than continue with a further sidetrack attempt,” says Cirrus president David Taylor, “we feel the most prudent course of action is… to full evaluate the operational issues that were encountered and re-design the drilling program before returning to progress the A07 well.”
Cirrus will also try to determine why production from another L8-D well, LLb-A06 well, has been declining steadily. Currently the field is producing 12 MMcf/d.
L8-D is a tieback to Cirrus’ M7-A field facilities, which came on stream last year. Current output is stable at 23 MMcf/d, but limited by capacity constraints at the L9-FF processing platform. However, Cirrus is seeking additional throughput capacity.
The Noble Lynda Bossler will shortly be released, having come off-contract, although Cirrus has an option to re-engage the rig during the second quarter at a dayrate of $89,500. Taylor says the company will probably drill a well on the M1-Delta exploration prospect before resuming work on L8-D. It has budgeted for four to five wells in the Dutch sector this year.
01/19-2010
