Bowleven Plc said Feb. 1 it has hit a key milestone in the appraisal drilling campaign of its Etinde asset, in which the company holds a 25% offshore interest.

The company's partner, New Age Cameroon Offshore Petroleum SA, a wholly owned subsidiary of New Age (African Global Energy Ltd.), the operator of the Etinde PSC, has entered into a contract with Vantage Drilling International, an offshore drilling contractor for the jackup rig the “Topaz Driller”.

The Topaz Driller has been contracted for 150 days to perform drilling services in Cameroon on the joint venture’s proposed appraisal wells, on the Etinde license. Planning for the delivery of the appraisal wells is ongoing and the company currently expects the well IM-6 spud during second-quarter 2018.

The Topaz Driller is currently in South East Asian waters and will transit to Singapore before mobilizing to Cameroon.