Rowan rig arrives in Gulf of Mexico ahead of GulfSlope gig

A Rowan Companies-owned jack up drilling rig has recently arrived in the Gulf of Mexico to work on GulfSlope Energy’s 2018 drilling program. 

GulfSlope said on Tuesday that the Ralph Coffman jack-up drilling rig recently arrived in the Gulf of Mexico.

The company secured the services of the rig through a drilling services contract with Atlantic Maritime Services, a subsidiary of Rowan Companies, back in February.

According to the company, the high-specification drilling rig is currently undergoing U.S. regulatory inspections, routine annual maintenance, and installation of third-party equipment.

The 2009-built drilling rig will be ready early this summer for the company’s anticipated 2018 drilling program.

GulfSlope also said that it recently filed two exploration plans (EP) with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) related to its 2018 drilling program.

The EPs were filed for Vermilion Area, South Addition Block 378 (Canoe Shallow prospect) and Ship Shoal Area, South Addition Blocks 336 / 351 (Tau prospect).

The company added that the applications for permits to drill both wells were in progress with anticipated approvals shortly after the EPs are approved. The first well will be spud in mid-2018 on the Vermilion Area while the second well will be drilled on the Ship Shoal Area shortly thereafter.