Shell lines up more wells, 3D data acquisition off French Guiana

April 2, 2012
Exploration drilling should resume in mid-year on the Guyane Maritime permit off French Guiana, according to Wessex Exploration.

Offshore staff

LONDON – Exploration drilling should resume in mid-year on the Guyane Maritime permit off French Guiana, according to Wessex Exploration.

New operator Shell has contracted the drillshipStena Drillmax ICE for a follow-up program to last year’s Zaedyus oil discovery. The other partners in the permit are Total, Tullow Oil, and Northpet, owned 50% by Wessex and Northern Petroleum.

In theZaedyus exploration well, 72 m (236 ft) of net oil pay was discovered in two turbidite sand systems, proving that the Jubilee play is mirrored across the Atlantic from West Africa.

Second-phase drilling will likely start with a delineation well on the discovery, followed by an exploration well on a neighboring prospect in defined by 3D seismic.

Further 3D seismic will be acquired during the second half of this year to further delineate leads on trend with and similar to Zaedyus that have been mapped on 2D seismic along the length of the deepwater margin.

4/2/2012