Talisman Sinopec stepping up North Sea drilling effort
Talisman Sinopec Energy UK has said it is to bring seven drill strings into use on its assets by early 2015 as it ups investment in the North Sea.
mobile units
UK well activity up but development drilling down on last month
A total of 15 E&A wells were active at the end of October . . . eight exploration and seven appraisals . . . bringing the total number of spuds this year to 37, that is, 19 exploration and 18 appraisal.
UK E&A up while Outer Snadd saves day on NCS
In the UK, nine of the 37 mobile units in the sector remain active on E&A wells, the same number as last reported. There have now been 23 well spuds in 2012 comprising 11 exploration and 12 appraisal wells, with five of these having been sidetracked.
Weather plagues 2012 campaign but results just keep on coming
A long-awaited weather window during November resulted in a higher level of well starts on the UK Continental Shelf than at any other time in 2011.
Is it quality not quantity that matters?
Five exploration and appraisal wells are currently operating on the UKCS from two semi-submersible rigs, two jack-up units and a single drill ship. That's all.
2011 E&A well count edging up
Exploration and appraisal (E&A) starts on the UKCS in the first two months of the year amount to three exploration wells and three appraisal wells. However, 10 E&A wells are currently active, all utilising mobile rigs, which are working on five exploration wells and the same number of appraisals.
Not a vintage year, but 2010 was good
Hannon Westwood's analysis of drilling on the UKCS in 2010 shows that 67 exploration & appraisal wells were started during the year; 28 exploration spuds and five sidetracks, plus 20 appraisal spuds and 14 sidetracks.
Slow start – but far better than 2009
As Q1 2010 drew to a close, eight exploration and appraisal wells were active on the UKCS. So far, 12 wells have spudded this year, including one restart, seven exploration wells and four appraisals.
Year ahead may yet spring a surprise
A year ago, UK North Sea drilling was going great guns with exploration and appraisal drilling, and it pretty much stayed that way for 2008, which turned out to be the busiest since 1997. During the first quarter, 20 wells and eight sidetracks were started.