A joint venture led by Cairn Energy PLC and containing ConocoPhillips and Perth-based FAR Ltd. has signed up the Ocean Rig Athena drillship to drill as many as 6 wells surrounding its SNE-1 oil discovery late this year into 2016 (OGJ Online, Apr. 14, 2015).
The JV has formally submitted a 3-year evaluation plan to the government of Senegal for 3 firm and 3 optional exploration and appraisal wells.
Ocean Rig Athena is currently working for ConocoPhillips offshore Angola.
The drilling program will comprise 2 appraisals of SNE-1 including cores through and tests of the reservoir. There also will be 1 shelf exploration well within a 25-km radius of the discovery.
In addition the group plans a 2,000 sq km 3D seismic survey over the Sangomar and Rufisque blocks to aid understanding the prospectivity of the contract area.
SNE has a gross estimate 2C contingent resource of 330 million bbl with excellent reservoir characteristics. Operator Cairn hopes to develop the field by 2020, subject to a successful appraisal campaign.
The three contingent wells are subject to ongoing evaluation of the FAN-1 discovery and the results of the 3 firm wells.
