Kosmos kicks off 2nd phase of exploration drilling off Mauritania & Senegal

Oil and gas company Kosmos Energy has begun the second phase of its multi-well exploration drilling program offshore Mauritania and Senegal.

The company said on Friday that the Atwood Oceanics-owned drillship Atwood Achiever is now on location offshore Senegal in the Cayar Offshore Profond block.

The drillship has started drilling operations on the first exploration well in the program targeting the Yakaar prospect, formerly referred to as Teranga West. The Yakaar prospect is located approximately 40 kilometers west of the Teranga discovery.

The rig is under a fixed term contract with Kosmos until November. It is operating under a dayrate of $595,500.

Late last year, the oil major BP agreed to buy into Kosmos Energy’s exploration blocks located offshore Mauritania and Senegal. BP bought a 62% working interest, including operatorship, of Kosmos’ exploration blocks in Mauritania and a 32.49% effective working interest in Kosmos’ Senegal exploration blocks. The Senegal part of transaction was concluded this February.

The approximately 33,000 square kilometers of acreage includes the Tortue field, which is estimated to contain more than 15 tcf of discovered gas resources. The partners expect to produce first gas from the Tortue project by 2021.

The 2017 drilling program for Senegal includes three new exploration wells.

Offshore Energy Today Staff