Gabon: Ophir spuds Padouck Deep pre-salt well

Ophir Energy has begun drilling the Padouck Deep-1 well on the Ntsina Block using the Vantage Titanium Explorer drillship. Ophir said Padouck Deep was the first well targeting the pre-salt play offshore in the North Gabon basin. The well is located in a water depth of 835 metres and has a planned total depth of 3,500 metres sub-sea. Operations are expected to take approximately 45 days. Ophir is operator, but its share of the well cost is largely carried by partners Petrobras and OMV, although the Austrian company’s farm-in announced on 18 December is still subject to government approval.