The Ensco 68 jack-up drilling rig arrived on location near Byron Energy’s SM 71 F platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, November 26.
Otto Energy, Byron’s 50-50 partner in the license, said on Thursday that the rig, hired in September , was pre-loaded and jacked up to working height over the SM 71 F platform.
Initial work involves driving conductor pipe over the SM 71 F1 well to tie it back to the well bay and protect the discovery well during drilling operations. Once completed, the rig will skid over to the SM 71 F2 well slot and begin to drive a 24” drive pipe before spudding.
The SM 72 F2 well has two targets, the B65 and D5 Sand. According to Otto, the B65 Sand has the potential to double the current field size of SM 71.
The 2,733 meters measured depth F2 well is estimated to take approximately one month to drill and evaluate from the spud date.
Otto added that first production from the SM 71 F platform, installed earlier this month , was expected by late January 2018 after completion of operations on the SM 71 F1 and F2 wells.
Managing director of Otto Energy, Matthew Allen , said: “Otto is pleased with progress at SM 71 and the commencement of drilling operations represents the culmination of a significant amount of preparatory work.
“The coming month will see the F2 well test the exciting exploration potential in the B65 sand and bring the second development well location into the field. This is an exciting period for Otto’s shareholders with the ST 224 well also nearing the final target.”