Helium One Global said the engineering audit on its preferred drilling rig for the phase II drilling programme at Rukwa in Tanzania has been completed.
Aberdeen Drilling Consultants has signed off the rig as being fit for purpose, the company said.
In a statement, David Minchin, Helium One’s CEO, commented: "We are delighted to report the completion of the ADC audit over our preferred drilling rig at its yard in Kenya. The audit has allowed a complete assessment of the Rig's operational capability culminating in a successful high-pressure endurance test that required all systems on the rig to operate together under more than 2,000 Psi pressure load for a period of eight hours."
"The in-depth audit completed by ADC has delivered significant value to the company, flagging issues that had potential to cause considerable cost and delay if only identified later in the field. The next crucial step is the completion of export paperwork and commencement of rig mobilisation as soon as practical," he added.
Once the paperwork is done, the start of Phase II drilling will depend on when Baker Hughes' integrated service equipment arrives, Minchin said.
Baker Hughes anticipates the equipment will be released from current operations in South Africa in December, which would allow drilling to commence early in 2023, the company noted.
"An alternative rig has been identified which would be capable of undertaking our drilling programme at our Tai Prospect in Tanzania. However this rig is not available until Q2 next year and hence remains as a standby option," the Helium One CEO concluded.