Statoil Spuds First Well for South Pars Phases 6 - 8

The first well in phases six-eight of Iran's South Pars gas development in the Persian Gulf has been spudded by Statoil as operator for the offshore part of this project. Each of the 30 producers embraced by the program will be drilled to a measured length of about 4,000 meters.

The Rani Woro jackup arrived at the drilling location on January 25th and spudded the day after.

"That's initiated an important new phase in the South Pars development," says well manager Per Haaland in Statoil's project team.

Chartered by Statoil in 2003 for up to three years, Rani Woro is owned by Indonesia's PT Apexindo Pratama Duta in Jakarta.

Iran's Pars Oil & Gas Company (POGC), which is in overall charge of the whole South Pars development, has a five-year contract with Japan Drilling Company.

This covers the charter for Sagadrill 2, which is being chartered on to Statoil for up to three years.

The first of three jackets for the wellhead platforms covered by phases six-eight was installed on the field on January 5th, and the other two are currently being completed. Rune Mordal, project manager for platform construction, confirms that the second jacket is due to be transported to the field in late January or early February.

Sagadrill 2 is scheduled to spud its first well as soon as jacket number two has been installed.