Stone Energy secures deepwater rig

Stone Energy Corp. has contracted a dynamically positioned deepwater drilling rig from Ensco PLC for its Cardona oil development program on Mississippi Canyon Block 29 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Stone will use the 8500 series rig starting in this year’s second half to drill the Cardona South well. The independent plans to tie back both Cardona wells to the wholly owned Pompano platform and begin production in late 2014.

Stone, operator, holds a 65% working interest in the Cardona wells. The company acquired the Mississippi Canyon 29 and Pompano platform assets from BP PLC last year (OGJ Online, Nov. 21, 2011).