France's Total does not expect much oil output, if any, from the giant Kashagan oilfield in Kazakhstan this year and it is awaiting results of further analyses to assess the costs and delays facing its consortium partners.
IRISH company Providence Resources has contracted the semi-submersible drilling rig, GSF Arctic II, for its Celtic Sea drilling programme of two firm wells plus an option offshore Ireland this summer. The company said it confirmed the presence of a significant oil accumulation at the Hook Head structure with the drilling last autumn of the 50/11-3 appraisal well. Providence logged a total of 75ft of net hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir in a 484ft gross hydrocarbon-bearing interval.
