Drilling/Production news briefs, Aug. 9

Phillips Petroleum Co. UK Ltd. awarded Aker Maritime AS a �7 million contract to tow the Maureen platform and its loading column to Aker Stord in western Norway, clean the three Maureen storage tanks, and inspect the platform. Should the owners of Maureen fail to secure reuse for the platform, the contract contains an option for its complete dismantling. Last year, Aker Maritime was awarded the contract to free the platform from the seabed and refloat it. The tow from the Maureen field location in the UK North Sea to Aker Stord for mooring is expected to begin in June 2001. Phillips Petroleum operates Maureen. Partners are Agip UK Ltd., BG International Ltd., TotalFinaElf SA unit Fina Exploration Ltd., and Pentex Oil UK Ltd.

Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, said Tuesday that two wells it's drilled this year in the Monkman area in the British Columbia foothills have found gas. The first well, Talisman Poco Highhat c-42-K/93-P5, flowed natural gas at a rate of 18 MMcfd. Drilled to a total depth of 13,629 ft, the well encountered 656 ft of net pay in the Triassic and proved a new structure in the Highhat area. The well is now on stream, and production from the Highhat area totals 35 MMcfd, restricted by compressor capacity. The latest well, Talisman Poco W. Bullmoose d-7-E/93-P-3, flowed at an initial rate of 39 MMcfd. The well was drilled to a total depth of 13,661 ft and encountered 820 ft of net pay in the Triassic. The well is currently on stream. Talisman holds a 50% interest in each well.