Salamander to Start Drilling in G4/50, Gulf of Thailand
Salamander announces that its Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) for exploration drilling in the G4/50 licence, Greater Bualuang area, Gulf of Thailand, has been granted conditional approval. Of the 20 drilling locations in the original EIA, 18 have been approved subject to: updating the oil spill response modelling to account for the removal of two potential drilling locations; and communicating the removal of the two locations to local stakeholders. In addition the Thai authorities have stipulated technical adjustments to the drafting. The 18 locations include all of Salamander’s top ranked prospects in the G4/50 licence and the company expects to commence exploration drilling before the end of 2014.
First Oil in Salamander FSO at Bualuang Field
Salamander announces that first oil has been received in the tanks of the newly converted Suksan Salamander Floating Storage and Offtake Vessel (“FSO”) at the Bualuang field in the Gulf of Thailand. This is the culmination of the planned upgrade to the field’s facilities which targets a reduction in operating costs of up to $25 million per annum. New power and processing modules were loaded out to the Bravo platform in the first half of the year. These have been operating smoothly since hook up and commissioning in May. The FSO arrived on location in July. Following hook up and commissioning the new FSO is now fully operational. As well as halving the day rate of the production vessel…
