Premier Oil's Isobel Deep 14/20-1 well in the North Falkland Basin has been suspended and the blowout preventer (BOP) stack recovered after an equipment malfunction.
Partner Rockhopper Exploration said Friday that, while repairs are carried out, the semisubmersible rig Eirik Raude, used for the operation, has moved to set conductors at the Chatham and Jayne East exploration well locations. The rig will return to the Isobel Deep location to continue drilling on completion of BOP repairs.
Isobel Deep in exploration license PL004a is Premier’s second exploration well in its 2015 campaign offshore the Falkland Islands, following a successful well on the Zebedee prospect.
The 14/20-1 Isobel Deep well had spudded on 8 April. Rockhopper says, following successful setting of the 13 3/8in casing string at 1273.9m measured depth below rotary kelly bushing, the well encountered problems with the BOP stack as a result of equipment malfunction which has required the well to be suspended and BOP stack recovered for the necessary repairs.
When the well spudded, Rockhopper said, if successful, the well on Isobel Deep has the potential to open up a new development area, according to partner Rockhopper Exploration.
The well, part of an overall five to six well exploration campaign in the Falklands by Premier and Noble Energy under a rig sharing agreement, is being drilled using the Eirik Raude.
The Isobel/Elaine complex is estimated to contain mid case un-risked gross prospective resources, based on the operator’s estimates, of 243 MMbbl, says partner Falklands Oil and Gas.
Rockhopper Exploration says the complex as a whole in the area has gross mean prospective resources of just over 500 MMbbl.
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