By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 10 -- Husky Energy Inc., Calgary, plans to drill an exploration well in the Jeanne d'Arc basin, 350 km east of Newfoundland and Labrador, as part of Husky's exploration strategy off Canada's East Coast.
The well will be drilled on the Trepassey exploration license. Husky holds 100% interest in the license, EL 1044.
The Newfoundland offshore area covers about 225,000 sq miles, with eight basins of potential interest to the industry. But none except Jeanne d'Arc has been drilled in recent years (OGJ, Jan. 21, 2002, p. 58).
The Trepassey exploration well will test the oil potential of a large structure 10 km south of White Rose oil field. Husky Energy holds six additional licenses in the Jeanne d'Arc basin and anticipates drilling a second well in late 2002 or in 2003.
GlobalSanteFe International (Canada) Drilling Co. will provide the Glomar Grand Banks semisubmersible drilling rig for the Trepassey well. The well will be spudded in the third quarter and be drilled to 3,100 m, Husky Energy said.
Basins off eastern Canada
Husky Energy Pres. and CEO John C.S. Lau said, "The East Coast is a core growth area for Husky. The Terra Nova development and the White Rose project are important milestones for Husky," which is the largest licenseholder in the Jeanne d'Arc basin.
Petro-Canada operates Terra Nova, and Husky Oil Operations Ltd. has 12.51% interest. Terra Nova field produced first oil on Jan. 20 and achieved its 125,000 b/d capacity in 9 days from start-up. Terra Nova has 370-470 million bbl of proved and probable reserves.
Husky Oil Operations, White Rose operator, announced the go-ahead for that field development on Mar. 26. Start-up is pegged for fourth quarter 2005, with reserves estimated at 200-250 million bbl, the smallest development yet in the region (OGJ, May 13, 2002, p. 17).
The East Coast of Canada is expected to become a growing exporter of oil, natural gas, and electric power to US markets within the next few years, the premiers of Nova Scotia and of Newfoundland and Labrador provinces said during a news conference at the Offshore Technology Conference (OGJ Online, May 1, 2002).
