CGX hires PGS for Corentyne survey, defers rig contract

Canadian oil and gas company CGX Energy has hired PGS to conduct a 3D seismic survey over its Corentyne Block offshore Guyana. CGX has also deferred all operational obligations under its drilling rig contract for the Ralph Coffman jack-up due to the re-sequencing of commitments in the Corentyne Block. 

CGX Energy said on Monday that, through its subsidiary CGX Resources (CRI), it had executed a contract with PGS Geophysical to provide acquisition and processing of a full broadband marine 3D seismic survey, to produce seismic data covering approximately 582 km2 of the northern portion of the Corentyne Block offshore in Guyana.

CGX Resources is the operator of the Corentyne Block under a joint operating agreement with Frontera Energy Guyana Corp (FEGC). CRI has a 66.667% participating interest in the block, with FEGC holding a 33.333% interest in the block.

The survey is expected to start in mid-October 2019 and be completed by November 27, 2019. This is in line with CRI’s re-sequenced work-plan on the Corentyne Block, which requires CRI to complete a seismic survey by November 27, 2019, and the drilling of an exploration well by November 2020.

PGS plans to use an integrated acquisition and imaging approach for fast turnaround of the seismic data. A Ramform Titan-class seismic vessel will be used to complete the acquisition. GeoStreamer acquisition technology will enable advanced imaging techniques to provide structural imaging to support drilling decisions.

Rig contract deferred

CRI has also executed a letter of understanding (LOU) with Rowan Rigs S.a.r.l. regarding the drilling rig contract entered into on December 14, 2018, which required the prepayment of certain costs for the use of the Ralph Coffman offshore jack-up rig.

Under the terms of the LOU, CRI has agreed with the contractor that all operational obligations under the drilling rig contract will be deferred until the parties can enter into an amended agreement due to the re-sequencing of the commitments in the Corentyne Block and plans to drill in its Demerara Block back-to-back with its Corentyne Block during 2020.

CRI will not be entitled to the reimbursement of the mobilization fee under the terms of the LOU and, if an amended agreement is executed by CRI and the contractor on or before July 1, 2020, CRI will receive a credit towards payments due under the amended agreement.

CGX names VP, Operations

CGX also said on Monday it had appointed Michael Stockinger to the position of Vice-President, Operations. Stockinger previously held the position of Drilling Engineer Consultant with the company. Stockinger has more than 40 years of drilling operations experience, including 18 years with Conoco and 12 years with Kerr-McGee. He held various positions including drilling engineer, rig supervisor, GOM Drilling Manager, and VP-Worldwide Drilling Operations. Stockinger currently has 10 years’ experience in the Guyana Suriname basin.

Professor Suresh Narine, Executive Chairman, commented: “Recent discoveries in close proximity to the northern region of the Corentyne Block and in the shallow water east of the Demerara Block presents a compelling endorsement of CRI’s re-sequenced plans to drill exploration wells back-to-back on its Corentyne and Demerara Blocks in 2020, following further forensic seismic investigation of the northern region of the Corentyne Block. CRI’s arrangement with PGS will allow us to take advantage of PGS’ previous experience in this region of the basin to both acquire and process 3D seismic crucial to our understanding of the northern region of the Corentyne Block. In the meantime CRI has been streamlining its prospects in the Demerara Block based on the 3D seismic campaign it conducted over the Demerara Block in 2014.

“The arrangement with the contractor will allow CRI to utilize funds previously committed to the Ralph Coffman rig to drill the Utakwaaka well to any of the contractor’s rigs that are utilized to drill the Corentyne and Demerara Blocks in 2020. Several of the more recent discoveries in the basin continue to provide tangible endorsements of the company’s exploration focus and I wish to thank our partners and shareholders for their continued support of the company as we move towards realizing a 21-year vision and commitment to the Guyana basin.”

Dr. Narine further commented, “I am also delighted to announce that in keeping with the increased operational focus of the company following our successful rights offering and joint venture with FEGC in the first quarter of 2019, Mr. Michael Stockinger has been appointed Vice President Operations. Mr. Stockinger brings more than 40 years of operational and drilling expertise to the helm of the company’s operational efforts, including experience in successfully and safely drilling the Guyana-Suriname Basin.”

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