Vaalco spuds exploration well offshore Gabon

Jan. 10, 2014
Vaalco Energy Inc. has spudded an exploration well in the Dimba prospect about 7 miles northeast of the Etame field offshore Gabon.

Vaalco Energy Inc. has spudded an exploration well in the Dimba prospect about 7 miles northeast of the Etame field offshore Gabon.

The well was drilled by KCA Deutag’s Ben Rinnes jack up rig in 175 ft of water. The well will evaluate both the Gamba and deeper syn-rift formations, Vaalco said. The rig also will be used to re-drill the S. Tchibala 1-H well that experienced a casing failure in early 2013, and to perform a workover of the Avouma 2-H well to replace a failed submersible pump assembly.

The Etame Maritn block is undergoing construction on schedule on two production platforms for additional development. Vaalco expects one platform to be installed in the Etame field and the second platform to be installed between the Southeast Etame and North Tchibala fields in this year’s second half.

The company has scheduled for March a 6-day shutdown of the Etame Marin block to upgrade the safety systems and perform general maintenance and repairs on Vaalco’s leased floating production, storage, and offloading vessel. Vaalco will compensate for the FPSO outage by performing maintenance in the field.