While Shell has delayed its plans for drilling offshore Alaska, ConocoPhillips plans to go ahead with exploratory drilling in the Chukchi Sea next year.
According to official papers, the company intends to drill two wells utilising the harsh environment jack-up rig Noble Houston Colbert under a one-year contract at a day rate of $235,000. The rig is scheduled for delivery from Singapore’s Jurong Shipyard during the second-half of this year.
Conoco Phillips is targeting the Devils Paw prospect, which lies to the south of Shell’s Chukchi Sea prospects.