Senegal's offshore oil plans inch ahead
Cairn seeks to manage expectations, as reserve estimates grow
Cairn Energy is pushing on with exploration and appraisal around its existing Senegalese offshore oil finds, as it seeks to move ahead with what could be one of the largest frontier oil developments of the next few years. The explorer says it doesn't want to fall into the trap of promising an overly ambitious schedule to a government eager to see early returns from the project, but the low prevailing drilling costs still make rapid progress attractive. A third phase of exploration drilling got underway in early 2017, using the Stena DrillMax rig, with two appraisal wells planned and several further ones possible, including on new exploration prospects. The first of the appraisal wells, SNE-5

Also in this section
1 April 2025
There is method to the US president’s apparent madness, and those seeking to understand need look no further than their local bookshop
1 April 2025
Strong economic growth targets are encouraging for the country’s energy demand growth, even if meeting those goals might be a tall order
28 March 2025
The Central Asian country is positioning itself as a low-carbon leader, but antiquated infrastructure and a dependence on Russia are holding it back
28 March 2025
MCEDD 2025 took place in Madrid this week with record attendance and a wide-ranging programme, reflecting the deepwater sector’s renewed momentum, strategic focus and accelerating technological innovation.