Exploration/Development Briefs

April 22, 2013

Morocco

Cairn Energy PLC has secured a long-term contract for the Transocean Cajun Express semisubmersible for a multicountry West African exploratory drilling campaign to begin in this year's second half. The rig, on an initial 1-year contract, will be used on Cairn's program in Senegal, Morocco, and other areas. Subject to obtaining the necessary approvals, the rig will be mobilized to start operations off Morocco on the Foum Draa license.

Cajun Express is a deepwater, fifth generation, dynamically positioned semi with shallow mooring capabilities and a 15,000-psi BOP stack. The historic performance of the Cajun Express indicates it is a highly efficient rig with low operating downtime.

Norway

WesternGeco has begun acquiring a multiclient broadband 3D seismic survey in the western Barents Sea off Norway. Supported by industry prefunding, the Ice Bear 2 survey "will improve the understanding of play potential and economic viability for hydrocarbon production in the region," WesternGeco said.

Ice Bear 2 lies north of the WesternGeco Bjornoya Ice Bear and West Loppa 3D survey areas where the Havis and Skrugard discoveries were made. Exploration and production activities in the region have increased as a result of these and other discoveries.

Texas

Crimson Exploration Inc., Houston, said the second Woodbine oil well in its 2013 capital program came on line at 984 b/d of oil, 437 Mcfd of gas, and 86 b/d of natural gas liquids on a 26⁄64-in. choke.

Crimson has an 82.8% working interest in the Mosley B-1H well in Madison County, Tex., drilled to 15,366 ft MTD with a 6,044-ft lateral. Completion involved a 22-stage frac.

The Payne B-1H well 1 mile east is drilling at 11,925 ft toward an estimated MTD of 15,740 ft and is to have a 6,600-ft lateral in Woodbine and a 22-stage frac. Crimson has an 83.5% working interest

In Grimes County, Tex., Crimson's midstream provider has begun initial start-up of the Central NGL Refrigeration Unit that will serve the Covington-Upchurch 1H. The well has been producing from the Woodbine-Lewisville sand at 1.9 MMcfd of gas and 100 b/d of oil on a small choke throughout the delay of plant start-up. Once the plant is fully operational, the Covington-Upchurch 1H will begin producing under normal conditions.

In Dimmit County, Tex., the Beeler-2H well, in which Crimson has 50% working interest, is drilling at 6,025 ft toward an estimated 11,180 ft MTD to include a 4,000-ft lateral in the Buda formation. As typical for the area, a natural completion is planned. Crimson holds 8,475 gross acres prospective for the Buda formation in its Booth-Tortuga area. Beeler-2H is Crimson's first well targeting the Buda.