FAR contracts rig for Gambia drilling

FAR Ltd., Melbourne, has let a contract to Stena Drilling for use of the Stena Icemax mobile offshore drilling unit in this year’s fourth quarter for a well offshore Gambia.

Bambo-1 in Block A2 is designed to drill into three prospects—Soloo, Bambo, and Soloo Deep—with total potential recoverable reserves of over 1 billion bbl of oil.

The Soloo prospect is an extension of the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs in Sangomar oil field offshore Senegal while Bambo and Soloo Deep are additional prospects with target horizons not drilled during the Senegal campaigns.

FAR said the latter two carry a lower chance of success, but they have potential for a higher volume of hydrocarbons. Technical assessment of Bambo has been enhanced with FAR’s database and experience in the region, including success at Sangomar and the drilling of Samo-1 in 2018, the company said.

Bambo-1, 85 km offshore and 500 m south of the Senegal-Gambia marine border, is expected to spud between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, subject to rig schedules. Drilling time is 1 month with a planned total depth of 3,266 m in water depths of 993 m.

Long lead-time items have been ordered and tendering for remaining key services is under way.

The drilling campaign has been approved by Gambia’s national environmental agency and FAR has engaged Exceed Energy, Aberdeen, to provide engineering and well management.

FAR is operator of the coming program and has a 50% interest in Blocks A2 and A5. JV partner PC Gambia Ltd., a subsidiary of Petronas, holds the other 50%.