Pacific Drilling-owned drillship Pacific Scirocco has entered Guinea shelf waters and is starting drilling operations for the independent exploration company Hyperdynamics.
Worth noting, by the start of drilling operations, Hyperdynamics does not mean the actual spudding, but the drillship preparations in general.
According to Hyperdynamics’ statement on Wednesday, the drillship entered the waters on Sunday, May 21.
Last week, Hyperdynamics’ subsidiary SCS Corporation and Pacific Drilling made effective an amendment to the drilling contract with a subsidiary of Pacific Drilling for the use of the Pacific Scirocco for mobilization for petroleum operations.
The amendment stipulates the rates and timing related to installing on the rig some drilling-related equipment, stocking up materials and supplies for the subsequent spudding of the Fatala 1 well.
Hyperdynamics initially hired the Pacific Bora drillship for operations off Guinea but later swapped it for Scirocco.
Hyperdynamics President and Chief Executive Officer, Ray Leonard , said: “We are very pleased that the rig has arrived in Guinea and has commenced drilling operations as provided by the Third Amendment to the PSC and look forward to drilling the Fatala prospect as soon as the rig gets on board additional equipment and supplies.”
About a month ago, Hyperdynamics and its project partner SAPETRO received notice of a Presidential Decree signed by the President of Guinea implementing the third amendment to its Production Sharing Contract that was signed on April 12, 2017, by the partners and representatives of the government.
The third amendment approves the assignment of 50% of SCS’ participating interest in the Guinea concession to SAPETRO, and it confirms the two companies’ rights to explore for oil and gas on a 5,000-square-kilometer block offshore Guinea.
Offshore Energy Today Staff