ABERDEEN company Drillers.com, which is behind an online resource for oilfield personnel, has just been awarded a West Africa contract with Rodeo Development, an exploration and production junior.
The contract covers provision of engineering and project management support, and supplying the in-country team – including a drilling manager, logistics co-ordinator and senior and night drilling supervisors – to drill appraisal and development gas wells in Cameroon.
The contract is for two wells initially, one of which is high-pressure, high-temperature. Other wells may follow, depending on the results from the first appraisal.
Rodeo, which became part of Bramlin in a reverse takeover in late-2007, holds a 60% interest in a concession arrangement with the government of Cameroon that covers exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons from the Logbaba concession on the outskirts of Douala city.
Steve Devereux, a chartered engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in oilfield drilling is behind Drillers.com.
He said: “These are technically challenging wells in an area with a history of gas kicks and some blowouts, but with limited offset data.
“We will use careful engineering, best oilfield practice and detailed risk assessment to achieve a safe and satisfactory result.”
Rodeo Development is a wholly owned subsidiary of AIM-listed Bramlin, which in November agreed to merge with Victoria Oil & Gas to gain access to the latter’s coffers.
Also on AIM, Victoria was lucky in that, during February, 2008, it successfully raised £20million. At about that time, Bramlin was preparing to set its teeth into the Cameroon project, but needed access to money.
The result is that Victoria will now lend Bramlin $5million to drill Logbaba. The deal also helps Victoria spread its risk as its business has, for some years, been orientated towards the Former Soviet Union.