CONOCOPHILLIPS has taken the drillship, Stena Carron, on sub-lease from Chevron for a high-risk exploration probe of the Laurentian Basin offshore Newfoundland, Canada.
The estimated 110-day single-well project is expected to start late this year/early next and means that the Stena Carron will leave UK waters, where it is currently on long-term contract to Chevron.
Ian Way, ConocoPhillips’ vice-president of business development, said: “We are probably looking at a spud date no earlier than early November, but it could slide into next year.”
ConocoPhillips holds eight contiguous offshore exploration licences in the Laurentian sub-basin.