KrisEnergy Ltd. has announced that the Atwood Orca jack-up rig has started the drilling of the Rojana-A exploration commitment well in block G11/48 in the Gulf of Thailand, where the joint-venture partners are developing the Nong Yao oil field.
Water depth at the Rojana-A location is 232 feet (70.6 metres). The well is planned to be drilled to a total depth of 4,828 feet measured depth (-4,068 feet total vertical depth subsea) and will evaluate a series of stacked sandstone reservoirs of Miocene age.
Chris Gibson-Robinson , KrisEnergy’s Director Exploration & Production, commented: “Rojana-A is the first exploration well to be drilled in G11/48 since the successful exploration and ensuing appraisal programs in 2009 and 2010, respectively.”
G11/48 covers 3,374 sq km over the southern margin of the Pattani Basin and the northwest margin of the Malay Basin in water depths of up to 75 metres. The contract area contains the Nong Yao oil discovery, which is currently under development and is expected to produce first oil in the first half of 2015.
KrisEnergy holds 22.5% working interest in G11/48. Mubadala Petroleum G11 (Thailand) Limited is the operator of the licence with a 67.5% working interest and Palang Sophon Limited holds 10%. The Atwood Orca jack-up rig is owned by Atwood Oceanics.