Cairn finds noncommercial gas off Greenland

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 24 -- Cairn Energy PLC said its T8-1 exploratory well off Greenland has discovered the first hydrocarbons in the Baffin Bay basin.

The well, operated by Cairn’s Capricorn Oil Ltd. unit, has not reached target depth, but the discovery of biogenic gas with components of thermogenic gas in thin sands is indicative of an active hydrocarbon system, Cairn noted. Drilling is to be finished by the end of August.

Meanwhile, Cairn expects the Alpha-1 well on the Cretaceous Alpha prospect to reach its target objectives in September. The company sidetracked the well in the Tertiary volcanic section for mechanical reasons and is setting casing in the volcanics.

The third exploratory well will be drilled on the T4 prospect 150 km northwest of Alpha and 150 km north of T8. The fourth well is dependent on the drilling schedule and is yet to be decided (see map, OGJ, Aug. 24, 2009, p. 38).

Alpha-1 and T8 are in 300-500 m of water on the Sigguk block 175 km off Disko Island, west Greenland. Planned target depths are 4,200 m and 3,250 m, respectively. The Stena Don semisubmersible and the Stena Forth drillship are drilling the wells.

Cairn said that on average two to three icebergs a day have drifted within a 25 km radius of the mobile drilling units. This is fewer icebergs than anticipated and well within the capability of the company’s fleet of towing vessels to handle.