ExxonMobil is looking to secure a semisubmersible to complete the drilling of a deepwater wildcat in the Flemish Pass offshore eastern Canada. The operator began drilling the Hampden K-41 probe in the spring of last year using Seadrill semisubmersible rig West Aquarius, but the unit was pulled off the well soon thereafter for reasons unknown.
ExxonMobil is currently prequalifying companies to supply a mobile offshore drilling unit to continue the well at Hampden in Exploration License (EL) 1165A.
The operator is targeting a mid-year 2022 start to the probe to be drilled in around 1175 m of water, some 454 km from St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Meanwhile, China’s CNOCC has wrapped up drilling on its Pelles prospect, its first exploration well offshore Newfoundland. The prospect, in about 1163 m of water, is located within license EL 1144. The wildcat was originally set to spud in early 2020 but was delayed due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company confirmed that drilling operations onboard drillship Stena Forth were complete and the rig plugged and abandoned the well. The results of the well were not released.