The duration of the drilling operations, the geophysical research, and the examination of the exposed prospective sites are planned to last 3 months. The results of the exploratory drilling and the examinations of the drill holes will be used for calculations of the deposit reservoirs.
The Energy Searcher drilling rig vessel, from which the drilling work is being carried out, arrived at the drill point from Singapore at the end of last week, where its repair and sea trials are taking place. To date, the penetration of the pilot borehole with the aim of determining surface gas has been completed.
Vietgazprom, whose Russian side is represented by Gazprom International, the single operator of Gazprom's foreign projects for exploration and development of hydrocarbon deposits, is performing drilling within the scope of performing the oil and gas contract in block No. 112, signed in 2000 by Gazprom, the Vietnamese national oil-and-gas group PetroVietnam, the corporation for the exploration and production of oil and gas PVEP, and by Gazprom zarubezhneftegaz.
The exploratory well on the Bao Vang structure, drilled by "Vietgazprom" in August 2007, revealed commercial reserves of gas which enabled a public announcement to be made regarding the opening of the deposit with the same name.
Vietgazprom drilled the first and second exploratory wells at Vao Bang in 2009 and 2010 respectively.