Lukoil starts exploration drilling in Sierra Leone

Russian company, Lukoil has announced that it has begun exploration drilling in block SL-5-11 offshore the coast of Sierra Leone, West Africa.

The official launch took place at the Eirik Raude drilling rig, which started with spudding a deepwater well in the Savannah prospect. The target depth of the wildcat to be drilled within, will exceed 4700 m, the water depth at the drilling location is more than 2000 m.

Eirik Raude is the largest 5^th generation self-propelled offshore drilling rig in the world. The rig has a height of 122 m, width of 85 m, deadweight of 52 500 t and transit speed of 7 knots, crew – 120 people.

Lukoil Overseas, operator of Lukoil’s international upstream projects, entered into the PSA for the exploration and development of block SL-5-11 in June 2011 as an operator with a 49% share. The other project partners are Oranto (30%) and PanAtlantic (21%).

Block SL-5-11 covers an area of 4022 km² on the shelf and continental slope of the Atlantic Ocean with water depth ranging from 100 to 3300 m. 2D and 3D seismic data was acquired on 1500 km² leading to the identification of several prospects. From the geological point of view, the block belongs to the Sierra Leone-Liberia basin where a number of sizable oil discoveries have recently been made.

A standard contract for exploration and development of the block was concluded for the term of 30 years. The exploration programme for the block includes re-interpretation of historical seismic data, an electric exploration survey and drilling of one exploration well.

The current exploration period will expire on December 31, 2013. Obligations of the next exploration period will depend on the drilling results.

Adapted from a press release by David Bizley

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/16092013/lukoil_starts_exploration_drilling_in_sierra_leone/