Confirmation of a rig contract by Deltic Energy PLC (AIM:DELT)'s partner Shell is a key milestone in the preparatory work for the drilling of the Pensacola exploration well in the Southern North Sea.
Deltic CEO Graham Swindells tells Proactive drilling is scheduled to commence in the second half of September with seabed operations for placing of the rig due to commence towards the end of July.
Highly anticipated for its potential to unlock a significant new source of gas to the UK, Pensacola will be drilled using the Maersk Resilient, a high efficiency jack-up rig, which has been under contract to Shell since the start of June.