The first deepwater wildcat to be drilled offshore Africa’s Senegal is underway, with operator Cairn Energy targeting the 900 MMbbl Fan oil prospect.

The frontier Fan-1 well is being drilled using the fifth generation rig Cajun Express, and is the first of a two-well programme. This is also the first probe in the country’s offshore sector for more than two decades.

Partner FAR revealed the well was underway, with managing director, Cath Norman, saying: “We have high hopes for these two wells which have the potential to be company makers for FAR. The next year is going to be very exciting for our company with five potentially high-impact wells to be drilled in our West and East African exploration permits. Of course exploration has its risks but we are confident that FAR can maximise the value from these two exploration wells. Success in either of these wells opens the door to a large play fairway of follow on drill targets which are very significant for FAR,” she said.

Operator Cairn has a 40% interest of the block, with FAR holding 15%, ConocoPhillips (35%) and Petrosen (10%).

The wildcat is being drilled in a water depth of 1,500 m (4,921 ft). The second probe is planned to target a shelf edge prospect in 1,100 m (3,609 ft) of water.

The two exploration wells together will test combined prospective resources of about 1.5 Bbbl of unrisked prospective resources (225 MMbbl net to FAR) and FAR retains a 15% working interest in the blocks.

In accordance with the terms of farm out deals completed with Capricorn Senegal Ltd. (a 100% subsidiary of Cairn) and ConocoPhillips, FAR secured its share of funding for these two wells.

Offshore