UK-based Aquadrill – formerly Seadrill Partners – reported that its Capella drillship will head to Indonesia’s Andaman area to carry out a deep-water drilling programme for Harbour Energy (LON:HBR) and Repsol (BME:REP).
The campaign, part of which will be targeting giant gas pockets in frontier waters, has been much anticipated, particularly Repsol’s wildcat, as it could help unlock deeper areas of the North Sumatra basin.
The MPD outfitted sixth generation drillship, to be managed by Vantage Holdings International, will drill two wells with an option for two more, Aquadrill said Tuesday.
The Capella rig will be contracted to Premier Oil, a Harbour company, for one well and subcontracted to Repsol for a second well.
The total contract value for the firm portion of the deal is expected to be about $42 million. If the extension options are exercised, the additional value of the deal would be about $37 million. The extension would be with Premier Oil.
Work is expected to start in the first quarter 2022, following the completion of Capella’s current contract in Malaysia with Thailand’s PTT Exploration & Production (PTTEP). The deep-water driller is currently managed by Seadrill Limited.
The firm contract is expected to run into middle of third quarter 2022. If, the options are exercised, and the work scope is similar to the firm wells, the rig is expected to be available in late 2022 or early 2023.
Aquadrill did not share details of the planned work programme, but Harbour Energy last month reported that preparations are underway for the drilling of the Timpan-1 exploration well at its Andaman II license during the first-half 2022.
The block has prospective resources of more than 6 trillion cubic feet and 200 million barrels of condensate. Premier Oil, now a Harbour Company, is the block’s operator with 40% stake. Other participants are Mubadala Petroleum and BP (LON:BP).
Meanwhile, Energy Voice previously reported that the Capella was tipped to win a single-well contract for Repsol’s much-anticipated Rencong-1X wildcat in the North Sumatra basin offshore Indonesia.
The region, which is essentially undrilled, offers the potential for big gas discoveries. Indeed, if successful, the wildcat could help unlock the deeper areas of basin, which sits on the northern part of Sumatra island stretching from onshore Indonesia to the deeper sections of the Andaman Sea.
Repsol and joint venture partner Petronas are targeting potential giant gas pockets in the Andaman III exploration Block in waters 1500 meters deep. The wildcat was due to be drilled in 2019 but was delayed due to a farm-in process that saw Petronas take a 51% stake in the block. A plan to drill in 2020 was derailed by the COVID pandemic.
It is planned in a lightly explored and prospective area of the basin that continues to generate interest and is being keenly watched by regional explorers and global international oil companies (IOCs).