Saipem drillship moves to Eni’s Morocco well

Eni has mobilised drillship Saipem 1200 for Rebat’s exploration well, withdrawing it from a Turkish block towards its operations in Cyprus.

Saipem 12000, a sixth generation ultra-deepwater drillship, has commenced its mobilisation to drill the RD-1 well on the Rabat Deep Permits in Morocco, Chariot Oil and Gas said in a statement.

The drillship is expected to arrive in Morocco in approximately 10 days, Chariot said on Feb 27. The RD-1 well is anticipated to spud shortly after its arrival.

Eni’s Morocco subsidiary owns 40 per cent stake in the permit and is the operator, while Woodside Energy and ONHYM each hold 25 per cent, and Chariot has a 10 per cent interest.

Eni secured the Saipem 12000 drillship for its drilling program in the Rabat Deep Offshore license in September 2017.

In the meantime, Eni also used the drillship for its operations offshore Cyprus, making a large gas discovery at the Calypso prospect in the Block 6 earlier in February.

Later in February, when the drillship attempted to move to the Soupia well location in the Block 3 in the disputed area of the Mediterranean Sea, it was blocked by the Turkish navy on the grounds of the expected military operation at the destination.

The drillship remained blocked for about two weeks and after a second failed attempt to reach its destination in Cyprus, it has anchored off Limassol towards Morocco.