Spudding of Exploration Well on Darwin
Fairfield Energy, a North Sea-focused independent oil and gas company, announced that the first well of a three well campaign in the Darwin area spudded on 23 October. The well is being drilled from the Ocean Nomad and is operated by Fairfield. The Darwin area includes the southern end of Block 211/27a (previously known as the NW Hutton field) together with an extension into Block 211/27e and lies approximately 130 km northeast of the Shetland Islands in the Northern North Sea.
Semi-submersible Rig Contracted to Drill North Sea Well
Iona Energy announce that it has entered into an agreement with Diamond Offshore Drilling (UK) Limited for the provision of its semi-submersible drilling rig, Ocean Nomad, for drilling of one well within the Staffa Oil Field in Block 3/8d of the UK North Sea. Dave Sherrard, Iona's Chief Development Officer commented "We are delighted to have contracted Diamond Offshore's Ocean Nomad for the near-term drilling of Iona's first well in the re-development of the Staffa Oil Field.
Interesting Drydock Ops in Mexico
A novel drydocking operation has commenced in Mexico, following the successful loading of the 11,220 tonnes semi-submersible rig Mata Redonda on the main deck of Zhong Ren 3, the world’s largest semi-submersible barge. Rotterdam-based ocean towage and heavy transportation specialists Fairmount Marine won the contract for the drydocking, using the 50,000 dwt Zhong Ren 3 as the platform. Fairmount President Henk van den Berg says: “The loading of Mata Redonda was performed in complete safety at a position some six miles off Tampico, Mexico. A project team from Tampico’s Bosnar Yard is now busy on the rig’s programme of maintenance and associated works, which is expected to take around 60 days. “This is the first deployment of Zhong Ren 3 as a drydocking platform.
