Chevron set to begin drilling Suriname well later this month

• Chevron is set to begin drilling its Korikori 1 exploration well offshore Suriname this month, according to the South American nation's state-owned oil company and market regulator Staatsolie. The well will be drilled 78 kilometres from Suriname’s coast in the north-central part of offshore Block 5, in a water depth of about 40 metres, Staatsolie said in a statement.
• Chevron received a permit in July from Suriname’s National Environmental Authority (NMA) for the well, Staatsolie said. The harsh environment, Jack-up Noble Regina Allen, will drill the well and is scheduled to reach the block in the first half of October, Staatsolie said. Drilling should take about 90 days.
• Noble in March announced a $17.7Mn contract for the Noble Regina Allen, set to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, though it did not name the operator at the time. That contract will run from October through December, according to the company’s fleet status report.
• Block 5 covers about 2,200 square kilometres and lies 45 to 82 kilometres offshore with water depths ranging from 30 to 60 metres, according to Staatsolie. Chevron operates Block 5 with a 40% interest, and its partners include Staatsolie subsidiary Paradise Oil Company (40%) and QatarEnergy (20%). Industry sources told Upstream in February that Chevron was readying the Suriname well for drilling in the fourth quarter.

(Source: Upstream Online)