Niko Resources Ltd., Calgary, has spudded the Ajek-1 exploratory well in the Kofiau block in the Salawati area of West Papua, Indonesia. Drilling time is 40-45 days to 5,900 ft.
Niko noted that the 2,400 nautical mile move to Kofiau from western Indonesia took only 23 days, much faster than anticipated, demonstrating the operational efficiency of the Ocean Monarch semisubmersible and the company’s Indonesian drilling team (OGJ Online, Nov. 12, 2012).