Drilling Begins on Senegal Well: FAR

Australian independent FAR Resources said that drilling of the SNE-5 well offshore Senegal began Saturday January 21.

“SNE-5 is the first of two new wells that will further evaluate the potential of the SNE oil field,” said FAR managing director, Cath Norman.

Some gas has been found at previous exploration and appraisal wells in the acreage offshore Senegal, which is operated by UK Cairn Energy with 40%. Other partners are Conoco 35%, FAR 15% and Senegal’s state Petrosen 10%; a sale by Conoco of its interest to Woodside is being contested.

Both wells – including the next SNE-6 – will be drilled by drillship Stena DrillMAX. SNE-5 is located in the southern area of the SNE oil field some 2km south east of SNE-3. Cairn said last week its drilling was imminent. SNE-6 is to be drilled immediately after the completion of SNE-5. 

Stena DrillMAX deepwater drill ship (Photo credit: FAR Resources)

Norman added: “This area represents one of the world’s most attractive emerging basins for oil and gas exploration as seen by the recent farm-in by BP to Kosmos’ acreage to the north of FAR’s blocks.”

Over the weekend, neighbouring Gambia's defeated president Yayha Jammeh was reported to have flown into exile in Equatorial Guinea, although authorities there have not yet officially confirmed his arrival. Jammeh's successor as Gambian president, Adama Barrow, was sworn in at a ceremony in Senegal on January 20, after Jammeh had initially refused to transfer power. BP and Kosmos agreed last month to cooperate on all exploration in Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia.

Mark Smedley