InterOil Corporation said it has assigned one of its drilling rigs to join the Elk-Antelope appraisal program in Papua New Guinea.
The PRL 15 Joint Venture, which is operated by Total, will use a rig that InterOil has under contract with High Arctic Energy Services to drill the Antelope-6 appraisal well later this year, the company informed in a statement.
InterOil Chief Executive Michael Hession said that the appraisal is a key step for the Papua LNG project.
Hession also said InterOil has decided to defer its discretionary drilling program, including appraisal of the Raptor discovery until the Elk-Antelope appraisal program was complete.
He said the company also continued to streamline its operations and reduce costs after handing operatorship of PRL 15 to Total in July this year.
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Image: InterOil