Gulf Keystone, an independent E&P operator in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, has commenced its development drilling programme with the spudding of Shaikan-10.
The company recently announced the approval of the Field Development Plan for the Shaikan field. In parallel, production operations from the newly commissioned Shaikan production facility are scheduled to commence shortly.
Shaikan-10, the Company’s first development well, spudded on 5 July 2013, launching a development drilling campaign as part of the approved phased development of the Shaikan field, which Gulf Keystone operates. The well is being drilled with the Weatherford 842 rig, which previously drilled Shaikan-8, also part of the agreed phased development. This rig also drilled the Shaikan-1 discovery well in 2009 and the Bijell-1 discovery well in 2010.
Shaikan-10 will be followed by a minimum 3-rig development and production drilling programme, which will commence in early 2014.
Shaikan-10 is to become a production well and is to be tied to the second Shaikan production facility, which is currently under construction. Analogous to PF-1, it is of modular design and its production capacity will be of 20,000 barrels of oil per day. Shaikan-2 and -5, already completed as production wells, will also be tied to PF-2.
“It is a recognised fact that Gulf Keystone has done outstanding work during the exploration phase and we continue targeting significant exploration upside of the Shaikan field with Shaikan-7, which is currently being drilled. Our next immediate target is to complete the Company’s transition from an exploration to a key producer in the Kurdistan Region in 2013. The spudding of Shaikan-10 is yet another step in the right direction.” said John Gerstenlauer, chief operating officer for Gulf Keystone.
