A number of companies specialized in the oil and gas field are preparing to submit bids to win new drilling, and exploration rights in Libya’s Melliah Complex. This is part of the $3 billion Mellitah Complex expansion project.
One of the contracts covers the drilling of eight wells in Block NC41’s “Structure A” region. The prequalification document submission deadline is 30 May, according to a statement published by Libya’s Mellitah Oil & Gas (MOG) company.
A jackup drilling rig capable of operating in waters as deep as 95 metres, is part of the contract’s scope of work. A jackup rig, also known as a self-elevating unit, is a mobile platform with a buoyant hull and numerous moveable legs that can raise the hull above the sea’s surface.
The buoyant hull allows the unit, and any related machinery to be transported to its desired place. The hull is lifted to the desired elevation above the sea surface, using the sea surface as support.
The second drilling contract is for 23 wells, also in Block NC41. The 23 wells will be drilled in the “Structure E” region, and consist of subsea wet and dry tree wells.
The prequalification document submission deadline for this project is also 30 May. The winning contractor is expected to provide a semisubmersible drilling rig service.
Semisubmersible drilling rigs are usually used to operate in deeper waters, than jackup rigs.
The area earmarked for drilling the 23 wells is around 31 kilometres northeast of the existing Sabratha platform, and about 110km from the closest point on the Libyan coast, according to prequalification documents published by MOG.
“The water depth range is around 200-250 metres (to be confirmed), with deviated/horizontal well type,” the document read.
The deepest well is expected to be approximately 5,800 metres along the length of the borehole, and at a vertical depth of 2,600 metres.
The scope of the contract is expected to include a pre-drilling campaign, well re-entry, tie-back, and completion.
MOG is a joint venture of Italian energy giant, Eni and Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC).