Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, June 2 –- Eight foreign workers have been kidnapped from the Bulford Dolphin semisubmersible off Nigeria, days after a well drilled by the rig was confirmed to be a gas discovery.
Fred Olsen Energy ASA of Norway owns the rig, operating it through Dolphin Drilling Ltd., an Aberdeen subsidiary.
The rig owner said contact had been established with the abducted personnel. The kidnappers seek negotiations with local representatives of Peak Petroleum Industries Nigeria and Equator Exploration, which hold the rig under contract.
The workers, six British, one American, and one Canadian, were aboard the rig when it was attacked during the night of June 1, Fred Olsen Energy said. The remaining crew was safe aboard the rig. Drilling was suspended.
Equator Exploration and Peak Petroleum had signed a contract with Dolphin Drilling in September 2005 for five wells. Last November, the Bulford Dolphin commenced drilling an appraisal well on the Bilabri discovery in OML 122, 25-60 km off Nigeria on the Western Niger Delta (OGJ Online, Dec. 7, 2005).
On May 24, Peak Petroleum and Equator Exploration announced the discovery of gas in the exploratory Owanare 1 well, on OML 122. They said Owanare 1, the second well drilled on OML 122 by the Peak-Equator combine, encountered high pressures and temperatures at 4,100 m and was suspended for possible production.
The well cut pay at 1,683-1,732 m and 2,183-96 m below the rotary table.
Horizon Energy Partners BV, independent advisers to Equator, estimated gas in place at 185 bcf.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].
