Offshore oil and gas company Kosmos Energy will begin drilling operations on the Pontoenoe well offshore Suriname during August, hoping to replicate ExxonMobil’s exploration successes recently made in neighboring Guyana.
Kosmos said on Monday in its 2Q 2018 report that Pontoenoe well was the first of up to three independent prospects in Block 42 offshore Suriname.
The company added that the drilling operations on the Pontoenoe-1 well were expected to begin in mid-August.
According to Kosmos, it is a similar play type to the Turbot and Longtail discoveries located approximately 70 kilometers to the west in Guyana, recently made by Exxon.
Andrew G. Inglis , chairman, and CEO, said: “In exploration, our program is unchanged, with one remaining test this year offshore Suriname. We expect to spud the Pontoenoe prospect in Block 42 in mid-August.”
It is worth noting that Kosmos recently failed to find hydrocarbons at the Anapai-1A exploration well located in Block 45 also offshore Suriname.
The company used the Ensco DS 12 drillship , formerly known as Atwood Achiever, for the work on the Anapai well which, following the end of operations on the well, proceeded to Pontoenoe.
As for its Suriname operations, Kosmos holds rights in the Block 42 and Block 45 contract areas under production sharing contracts with the Government of Suriname’s Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. (Staatsolie).
Kosmos (33.33 percent) is the exploration operator of Block 42 and is joined by its partners Chevron (33.33 percent) and Hess Corporation (33.33 percent). As for Block 45, Kosmos (50 percent) is the exploration operator and is joined by its partner Chevron (50 percent).
In a separate announcement on Monday, Kosmos said it would acquire Gulf of Mexico operator Deep Gulf Energy (DGE) from First Reserve and other shareholders for a total consideration of $1.225 billion, subject to certain adjustments.
Offshore Energy Today Staff