Page 32: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Mar/Apr 2020)

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FEATURE Deepwater

Central & South America

Mexico

It’s quite a big year in Mexico, says Latham, with previous years’ licensing rounds now being converted into exploration drilling. There are a number of wells scheduled, including

Repsol’s Polok 1, due to spud in March in 583m water. Other active explorers include Petronas and CNOOC, which are planning the Ameyali well in 1500m water depth in Block 4 in April, then a second later in the year.

Shell, with partner Chevron, is also drilling the Chibu-1 well in the Salinas - Sureste basin in 2760m water depth. Shell also has Max-1, planned for May, at 2500m.

Brazil

It’s been quiet in Brazil, on the exploration front, with op- erators focusing on appraisal. But, this year, there are some wells to watch, with perhaps 10 deepwater wells expected through the year. Shell was due to start drilling Saturno, a billion-barrel prospect, in the Santos Basin in 2700m water depth, starting late May, which could be followed by further wells in 1700-1800m water depth. ExxonMobil will also tar- get an exploration well in the Santos Basin in 2700m depth later in the year, says Latham.

Other notable wells include Monai-1 in the Campos Ba- sin in 2400m water depth, operated by incumbent Petrobras, while Equinor is targeting ES-M-671, in April, in Espirito

Santo, in 2500m water depth. Also, BP ‘s planned Morpho-1 exploration well, in just over 3000m water depth in the Foz do Amazonas Basin, still remains on the ‘upcoming’ list.

Peru

Elsewhere in Latin America, Karoon Energy’s Marina-1 well in a pretty big frontier offshore Peru was on the watch list but it’s already been deemed non-commercial, following drill- ing using the Stena Forth drillship earlier this year.

Suriname in Block 48, perhaps as soon as April, says Latham. Tullow

Kosmos is set to start drilling on Walker-1, in Block 42 in may also drill the Goliathberg North prospect in 1900m 2250m water depth, in April 2250m, testing a similar reef depth in 2H. feature to the Ranger-1 well in neighbouring Stabroek block in Guyana from 2017.

Guyana

In Block 58, Apache has followed up its successful Maka Guyana remains under focus with two wild cats in the Sta-

Central-1 well from last year, with Sapakara West-1 – drilling broek Block by ExxonMobile. Uaru was con?rmed in January was ongoing, going to press. Both wells are in about 1100m as Exxon’s 16th discovery in the block, in 1700m water depth. water depth. The Hassa 1 well is next in line, in similar depths. But, more

Petronas might also drill a prospect in 2000m water depth interesting is a well in summer, also by ExxonMobil, in the 32 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM