Perenco secures drilling rig for upcoming Ravenspurn campaign in Southern North Sea

(WO) — Perenco UK has signed a contract for a campaign of drilling operations using the Valaris 247 jack-up rig, the company announced on Monday.

This rig will drill a minimum of three new drains within the existing Ravenspurn gas fields in the Southern North Sea.  The rig is scheduled to move onto location in January 2023 in preparation for drilling and completion activities, which are expected to take around 180 days.

Valaris 247, formerly known as Gorilla V, is an Enhanced Super Gorilla Class rig built by LeTourneau Industries, Mississippi in 1998.  It is designed and outfitted to operate in water depths of up to 400 ft (122 m) and can drill to depths of 35,000 ft (10,668 m).

The rig will drill three challenging deviated wells, starting with a Ravenspurn North side-track.  All three wells will produce through existing Perenco-operated facilities (offshore platforms and pipelines) into Perenco UK’s Dimlington Terminal on the east coast of England, enhancing the UK’s home-grown gas supply and reducing the country’s reliance on imports.

“These activities are consistent with Perenco UK’s commitment as a safe and responsible operator to the North Sea Transition Deal, supporting energy security compatible with Net Zero targets,” Jonathan White, Perenco UK’s general manager, said.