AGR Petroleum Services will begin a £2million-plus well management contract on a significant drilling campaign off the Falklands this month on behalf of two oil and gas explorers.
The campaign is the second to tackle an area which the British Geological Survey has estimated may contain up to 60billion barrels of oil equivalent.
The first, 10 years ago, found hydrocarbons but was not followed by any development.
AGR, one of the largest independent well management firms in the world, has been contracted by Desire Petroleum and Rockhopper Exploration to provide logistical support and run a six-well drilling programme in the North Falklands Basin.
Desire Petroleum has four prospects to be drilled while Rockhopper will have two exploration wells drilled.
AGR, which is managing the work out of its Aberdeen office, is also in discussions with a third operator regarding additional drilling in the region.
Ian Burdis, executive vice-president of AGR in Aberdeen, said: “This is a major project for us.
“We’re now ready to begin drilling and will be working closely with our clients to achieve a successful outcome.”
AGR has established a supply base at Port Stanley in the Falklands which required an initial cargo of around 9,000 tonnes to be shipped from Aberdeen harbour.
The semi-submersible rig Ocean Guardian has been contracted from Aberdeen-based Diamond Offshore Drilling UK by Desire and will be used during the drilling of all six wells.
It set out on tow from Invergordon in late November following an upgrade. The first target to be drilled will be Desire’s Liz prospect, mooted to contain up to 660million barrels of oil equivalent. The Ocean Guardian will then drill Rockhopper’s Sea Lion and Ernest prospects. The timing of other wells has still to be firmed up.
AGR is part of Norway’s AGR Group.
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