Cameroon: Murphy spuds Bamboo well

Murphy Oil has begun drilling the Bamboo-1 well on the Ntem concession following the lifting of force majeure provisions (AE 270/18). Partner Sterling Energy said the well was being drilled by the Ocean Confidence semi-submersible drilling rig at a site 56km from the coast. The well is being drilled in water depths of 1,600 metres to a target depth of 4,200 metres sub-sea, testing an Upper Cretaceous basin floor fan target. The Ntem area was placed under force majeure in June 2005 as a result of overlapping maritime border claims by Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.