West Rochelle well under way in North Sea

March 8, 2013
Endeavour Energy (NYSE:END) says the semisub Transocean Prospect has started drilling the West Rochelle area production well in the UK central North Sea.

Offshore staff

HOUSTON –Endeavour Energy (NYSE:END) says the semisub Transocean Prospect has started drilling the West Rochelle area production well in the UK central North Sea.

Drilling and completion should take around 120 days.

At the related East Rochelle field development (both tieback to the Scott platform), analysis and testing continues to determine the cause of anon-uniform hole around the conductor pipe, which led to suspension of the East Rochelle well.  Endeavour hopes to restart drilling operations at East Rochelle following first production at West Rochelle.

Most of the related subsea infrastructure has been installed and modifications to the Scott platform are nearing completion.

At the Apache-operatedBacchus development (Endeavour 30%), a third production well will start drilling this month. Positive data gained from a second of two wells put in last year led the partners to observe field results before proceeding with the third well.

At the Chevron-operatedAlba complex production continues to be impacted by water handling issues. However normal service should be restored later this year.

Endeavour expects to spend $140-150 million this year on its various UK offshore programs, with around 60% directed at drilling and completion of Rochelle and Bacchus.

3/8/2013