Fossil Energy – Drilling Shetland Islands
Shell has obtained approval from the UK regulator for further drilling on the Penguins field, located northeast of the Shetland Islands.
Drilling operations will be conducted using a Diamond Offshore-owned semisubmersible rig.
The drilling of the Penguin East, 211/13a- 18 (PC-04) production well will be done by the anchored semisubmersible rig Ocean Endeavour and may take up to 101 days to complete. The rig will be held on location by 12 anchors – inclusive of 6 contingent anchors – which will be pre-laid prior to rig arrival.
The Penguin East drilling is planned to begin in April 2023 and the approval direction will be valid from 10 April until 31 December 2023.
The Penguins field redevelopment project is located approximately 150 km east from the Shetland coastline in Scotland and adjacent to the UK/Norwegian median line, in an area where water depth is approximately 163 meters.
As part of the Penguins redevelopment process, a further eight wells will be drilled and tied back to the FPSO vessel, which has recently arrived from China to Norway to undergo final preparations.
