A wildcat well is underway in frontier Atlantic Margin waters offshore North Africa’s Morocco, with the probe the first in operator Cairn Energy’s multi-well exploration campaign in the region.

Drilling of the FD-I exploration well on the F Prospect is being carried out using the Cajun Express, the fifth generation semisubmersible drilling unit, in 1,500 m (4,921 ft) of water. The well is located approximately 120 km offshore in the Foum Draa block, which Cairn operates with a 50% working interest. The well has a planned Total Depth of 5,500 m (18,000 ft), with operations expected to take approximately 60 days. The F Prospect is a slope apron clastic fan of Cretaceous/Jurassic age.

Cairn says that once operations are complete on the FD-1 well the rig will move to the Cap Juby location offshore Morocco to drill an exploration well targeting Middle Jurassic carbonates, subject to necessary approvals.

Cairn, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Capricorn Exploration and Development Ltd., is partnered in the project with state-owned ONHYM, San Leon Energy, Serica Energy and Longreach Oil & Gas Ltd.

Offshore