COSL identifies rig for offshore southern Ireland wells

China Oilfield Services Ltd (COSL) has put forward its semi-submersible COSLInnovator for next-phase drilling on the Barryroe oil field offshore southern Ireland.

Barryroe is in standard exploration license (SEL) 1/11 in 100 metres (328 feet) of water in the North Celtic Sea basin, 50 kilometres (31 miles) offshore.

Last September, Providence Resources subsidiary EXOLA and partner Lansdowne signed a farm-out agreement with Chinese entity APEC Energy Enterprises, under which the latter agreed to fund drilling and testing of four vertical wells, one horizontal side track, and two optional horizontal wells.

COSL is providing all services and equipment required for the drilling campaign.

The COSLInnovator is currently based in the Norwegian North Sea. The first well, subject to regulatory consent, will likely be 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles) west of the previous 48/24-10z well, which tested around 4,000 boe/d from a vertical seven-metre (23-foot) reservoir section at the Base Wealden level.

The new well will then be side-tracked to drill and test a 200-metre (656-foot) Base Wealden section. Well site survey operations should get under way this spring, again pending consents.

Providence expects rig mobilisation and drilling to start during the summer.

Source: Offshore Magazine