Nigeria: Ororo well still on hold as Sirius awaits Shelf rig

Oil and gas development and production company Sirius Petroleum is still waiting for Shelf Drilling’s jack-up rig to complete its prior engagements before heading to Ororo field offshore Nigeria to drill the Ororo-2 well, which has experienced several delays. 

To remind, Sirius broke off its previous commitment to use the COSL-owned jack-up rig COSL Force to drill two Ororo wells in favor of the Shelf Drilling-owned Adriatic-1 rig back in October 2018. This was decided due to maintenance of the COSL Force, which lasted longer than expected causing the delay for Ororo well.

Due to its proximity to the Ororo field, Sirius then contracted the Adriatic-1 jack-up, which was scheduled to become available during November 2018. Sirius also felt that the Adriatic-1 met the specifications required for the company’s proposed drilling program at Ororo-2 and Ororo-3.

After securing the Shelf rig for the Ororo drilling campaign, Sirius said it would spud Ororo-2 at the earliest possible time during 4Q 2018.

However, at the end of December 2018 the Adriatic-1 was still stationed in the adjacent oil block to the Ororo field (OML 95) and working on its contract with another operator, which meant another delay for the Ororo well.

In the latest update, released on Monday, February 25, Sirius said that it had been notified by Shelf Drilling that the Adriatic-1, currently stationed in the adjacent license to the Ororo field, is approaching Total Well Depth for the incumbent operator.

To preserve its current license, the company is required to bring the Ororo field into production on or before May 1, 2019. In the unlikely event that there are any unforeseen delays and the license does approach its expiry date, the company would seek a further extension to the term of the license, which has already been granted on two previous occasions.

Offshore Energy Today Staff