By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 28 -- Hess Corp. plans to interrupt drilling of its Pony-2 well on Green Canyon Block 468 in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico for a required rig inspection.
The US Coast Guard will conduct statutory inspection and routine repairs of Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc.'s Ocean Baroness semisubmersible. The rig will be put in dry dock.
Mechanical issues kept Hess from reaching TD of 32,500 ft before the inspection, said John O'Connor, president, worldwide exploration and production.
The well has been cased to 23,000 ft. The company plans to resume drilling in late September, O'Connor said.
Hess has a 100% interest in the Pony discovery (OGJ, Feb. 19, 2007, Newsletter).