88 Energy secures rig for Merlin-2 Alaskan North Slope appraisal well

88 Energy Ltd., Perth, secured a drilling rig for use in its Merlin-2 appraisal program on the North Slope of Alaska next year.

The company signed a rig contract with Doyon Drilling Inc. to use the Arctic Fox rig for the well which is part of its 100%-owned Project Peregrine in the NPR-A region.

The company plans to drill Merlin-2 in February 2022 to a total depth of 8,000 ft, and is targeting 652 million bbl of oil in the Nanushuk formation N18, N19, and N20 reservoir sands that were encountered in the Merlin-1 discovery in March-April this year.

A final drilling location has not been determined, but potential locations have been identified to the east of Merlin-1 and closer to the shelf break where enhanced reservoir thickness and higher quality sands are expected.

Permitting and planning, including preparations for constructing the ice road and drilling pad, are on schedule.