According to the press, drilling at the Delphine target in block 10 ceased some 10 days ago after drill component was badly damaged.

The information has not been confirmed by the government or ExxonMobil.

If the technical problem had not occurred, the energy companies and the government may already have had indications on whether there was a natural gas deposit in Delphine, the daily said, as the drilling had reached a depth of approximately 3,000 metres below the seabed (5,000 metres from the surface of the sea). That is approximately the point where the seismic surveys that preceded the drilling placed the existence of the coral structure that could contain natural gas.

The Stena Icemax drillship leased by ExxonMobil started the exploratory deep-water drilling on November 16. The drilling was expected to be concluded by the end of the year.

The press said that so far there was no information on when drilling would resume but that personnel and equipment were being transported from Limassol to the Stena IceMax drilling rig. This, it said, could be an indication that the drilling would resume soon.

After completing drilling in Delphine, the rig will move to either ‘Glafkos’ or ‘Anthea’ targets. The choice of the second target will depend, in part, on the findings of the first drilling in Delphine.

Source: Cyprus Mail