By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 6 -- Vanco Morocco Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanco Energy Co., Houston, has signed an agreement with ENI Morocco BV to begin drilling the first deepwater well in the Ras Tafelney exploration permit off Morocco.
Ras Tafelney licensees are operator Vanco Morocco Ltd. 45%, ENI Morocco BV 30%, and Morocco's national oil company Office National de Reserches et d'Explorations Petrolieres (ONAREP) 25%. Interest has been heightened off Morocco because of its geographic similarities with the productive Scotian shelf off eastern Canada (OGJ, Feb. 24, 2003, p 44.), and Vanco has acquired 8.4 million net acres off Morocco.
ENI's Saipem 10,000 drillship is scheduled to arrive in late April to drill the first well 130 km offshore in 2,120 m of water on the Shark B prospect, one of several 3D seismic-identified prospects within the license.
The well's main objective will be the Top Cretaceous and Albian reservoirs, while a Lower Tertiary turbidite play at shallower depths is a secondary target, Vanco said. The well will be drilled to 4,162 m TD.
