Cairn Energy has secured a rig to allow it to commence a drilling programme in the Disko West area, offshore Western Greenland, in H2 2010.

A sixth generation dynamically positioned drill ship, the Stena Forth, has been contracted to start operations in the summer drilling season (June-October) on Cairn’s Disko West acreage in Greenland subject to all required government approvals.

The Stena Forth is currently under contract to Hess Corporation. Cairn has reached agreement with Hess and Stena Drilling to take an assignment of the Stena Forth for a period of approximately six months.

Sir Bill Gammell, Chief Executive said, ”We are delighted to have secured a rig that allows Cairn to move forward with its Greenland drilling programme in 2010, a year earlier than previously scheduled. We are now equipped to commence drilling with a vessel that offers considerable operational flexibility.”

Tags: Cairn Energy PLC