Rig on Route for Total's S Africa Well

Norway's Odfjell Drilling has mobilised its Deepsea Stavanger semi-submersible rig for a Total's drilling campaign off South Africa, Odfjell said in a statement on July 2.

Total selected the rig in July last year under a contract valued at up to $190mn. The rig's mobilisation had been expected in the first quarter of 2020, but the French major and Odfjell agreed to delay the move in May.

Total now intends to drill the Luiperd-1 exploration well at South Africa's offshore 11B/12B block in the third quarter. In a separate statement, Total's partner at the block Africa Energy said the borehole would be sunk by September.

"Luiperd is the largest prospect in the Paddavissie Fairway and has been de-risked by the nearby Brulpadda discovery and subsequent 3D seismic work," Africa Energy CEO Garrett Soden said. 

Deepsea Stavanger made the Brulpadda gas condensate find at block 11B/12B  in February last year. South Africa is hoping that the field can be used to bolster dwindling domestic gas supply. Local authorities warn that the Mossel Bay gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant could run out of gas feedstock by the end of this year.

Total operates block 11B/12B with a 45% stake, while Qatar Petroleum has 25%, CNR international 20% and South African consortium Main Street 10%. Africa Energy owns 49% of Main Street.

Total is angling for partnership with Qatar in the North Field Expansion project, for which bidders are expected to offer upstream opportunities. The US major ExxonMobil has also brought QP into up- or midstream activities in the US and Mozambique.