Statoil hits total depth at Thorvald
Norwegian operator Statoil has reached total depth at Thorvald, its latest exploration effort in the US Gulf of Mexico, as it prepares to welcome a second rig to the North American deep-water region.
Federal US records show that Statoil filed for a permit on 18 June to plug back and sidetrack a well in Mississippi Canyon Block 814, the site of the Thorvald prospect.
On 26 June, however, Statoil filed for a permit to permanently abandon the well and remove the casing and wellhead.
Upstream sources said the Thorvald well was not successful. Statoil did not have an immediate comment when contacted on Monday.
Thorvald, spud in late March, was drilled with semi-submersible Maersk Developer in 4756 feet of water. Sources said drilling stopped about 2000 feet short of the permitted depth of about 31,100 feet. Final total depth was reached in mid-June.
US independent Anadarko holds a 50% carried interest in Thorvald, a Miocene prospect. Statoil had previously said it would operate the Thorvald exploration well, and Anadarko would operate any appraisal and development phases.
Yeti will be appraised by drillship Discoverer Americas "to further test commerciality", Statoil said. Drilling is set to begin by the end of this month and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter.
The rig, which Statoil previously had drilling off Tanzania, is expected to arrive in the US Gulf this month after leaving Africa in May. Its contract stretches into March 2016.
If confirmed, Yeti is considered a candidate to tie back to existing infrastructure. Chevron's Big Foot field is in the vicinity, as is Petrobras' Cascade development. Statoil is a partner in Big Foot, which is presumably a long way from coming online after nine of the tension-leg platform's 16 tendons sank during installation.
Maersk Developer is expected to move to another Statoil prospect in the deep-water US Gulf to drill a well before its contract expires in November.