Western Gas prepares for Valaris rig

Buru Rafael

Western Gas has confirmed that the mobilisation of equipment to the Valaris MS-1 semi-submersible drilling rig has commenced in preparation for the rig’s mobilisation to the Sasanof-1 exploration well.

The MS-1 is set to begin its four-day journey to the Sasanof Prospect on 16 May 2022. Following its voyage to the Sasanof Prospect, located 200 km northwest of Onslow WA, the rig and support vessels will prepare for drilling of the Sasanof-1 exploration well.

Executive Director of Western Gas Will Barker expressed the company’s excitement over the commencement of the project.

“We are thrilled to have commenced the mobilisation process for the drilling of Sasanof-1 after multiple years of technical studies, regulatory approvals, contracting and planning,” said Barker.

Commencement of the operation is expected to begin of 24 May 2022, once the rig has arrived safely on location and all anchors have been set.

The well will be drilled vertically to a total depth of 2500 m in 1070 m of water.

Sasanof-1 will be Western Gas’ first well drilled from its extensive exploration portfolio surrounding the existing Equus Gas Project. The Equus Gas Project, which Western Gas acquired in 2017 from Hess Corporation, is made up of four permits and retention leases and comprises 11 gas and condensate fields.

It contains a discovered resource of 2 trillion standard cubic feet of gas (Tcf) and 42 million barrels of oil (MMbbl).

The Equus Gas Project has a historic exploration drilling success rate of 88 per cent, with 15 discoveries having been found from 17 wells.

Western Gas hopes for a similar success rate and acknowledges the efforts to date of all contractors and service providers who have supported the Sasanof-1 drilling campaign.

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