The latest rig move as part of PSE Kinsale Energy’s subsea well abandonment campaign will take place this week, preceded by anchor pre-lay operations.
The Stena Spey mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) is currently operating at the Seven Heads Gas Field on well 48/24-5A and will relocate to the Ballycotton Gas Field are — which consists of a single well (48/20-2) — around Wednesday 20 October.
In advance of the move, the eight-anchor mooring spread will be pre-laid at the well location, using the MV Maersk Maker (callsign OZGO2) and MV Maersk Mariner (callsign OWGQ2).
After its arrival in the Ballycotton field, it is anticipated that the rig will continue to operate there until mid-November as a minimum, depending on operational progress.
Following completion of activities in the Ballycotton area, the rig will relocate to Scapa Flow, Orkney in Scotland as this will see all wells abandoned and the campaign completed.
The Stena Spey and its attending vessels will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the operation. All vessels, particularly those engaged in fishing, are requested to give the rig (and pre-laid anchor patterns) a wide berth and to keep a sharp lookout in the relevant areas.
Coordinates of the Stena Spey’s new position at Ballycotton and anchor lays in the are detailed in Marine Notice No 58 of 2021, which can be downloaded below.