Noble in Humpback well delay due to operational issues

Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (FOGL) has informed that the completion of the Humpback exploration well in the South Falklands Basin, offshore the Falkland Islands, has been delayed due to operational issues. 

The well is located in licence PL012 in which FOGL has a 52.5% working interest. Noble Energy is the operator of the licence.

The drilling of the well with the Eirik Raude drilling rig started on June 13, 2015, testing multiple stacked reservoirs within the Cretaceous Diomedea fan complex.

According to FOGL’s Interim Results for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a series of unforeseen equipment and operational issues have resulted in a delay in the completion of the well. These delays are expected to extend the duration of the well from 65 days to approximately 100 days.

FOGL anticipates that the results of the well should be available in September 2015 and a further update will be provided once target depth has been reached and wireline logs have been run, the company said in the report.

Furthermore, FOGL anticipates that a proportion of the additional costs of this delay will be borne by Noble Energy under a commercial arrangement that is currently being negotiated and the details of which will be announced when finalised.

John Martin, Chairman of FOGL, said: “Drilling on the Humpback prospect in the South Falkland basin is currently ongoing and we look forward to receiving and sharing the results of this well following completion of the drilling operations.”

FOGL added that, following the completion of the Humpback well, the Eirik Raude rig will return to the North Falklands basin. Consideration is currently being given to further drilling at Isobel Deep and this may replace the planned Jayne East well. FOGL concluded that any further drilling in the South Falkland basin, as part of the current programme, will be dependent on the Humpback results.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

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