Cairn's Activities in Greenland Overview
It is in the interests of the Greenland Government to put in place the most stringent and robust measures.
Cairn takes its responsibilities such as oil spill contingency and response plans very seriously.
Cairn, working closely with the Greenland authorities, has developed an extensive emergency response and oil spill response plan.As stipulated by Government of Greenland policy, Cairn does not make the oil spill response documents publicly available.
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Three years ago, in 2007 the Greenlandic government invited international oil and gas companies to once again explore for hydrocarbons offshore Greenland. (There were five wells drilled offshore Greenland in the 1970s and one in 2000.) As a company with a proven track record of successfully exploring for hydrocarbons around the world, in challenging environments, Cairn was one of many companies to register an interest. Cairn currently has an interest in 11 areas (blocks) offshore Greenland, covering an area of approximately 102,000 square kilometres.
Recent News
- 3 June 2011
- Exploration Offshore Greenland
- 24 May 2011
- Greenland Operational Update
- 19 May 2011
- Interim Management Statement
- 10 March 2011
- 2010 Preliminary Results Events
- 27 January 2011
- Operational Update
- 4 January 2011
- Cairn secures rigs for 2011 Greenland expansion
- 28 October 2010
- Interim Management Statement
- 26 October 2010
- Greenland Operational Update
- 21 September 2010
- Greenland Operational Update
- 02 September 2010
- Greenland
- 24 August 2010
- 2010 Half-Yearly Report Announcement
Local Imagery Click to view
The Ocean Rig Corcovado, offshore Greenland, during the 2011 drilling programme.
Cairn's Greenland Activities to date
Cairn is planning to drill up to four exploration wells offshore Greenland in the summer of 2011 and acquire three 3D seismic surveys of 1,500 square kilometres. This programme follows on from the encouraging 2010 three-well exploration programme offshore west Greenland in the Baffin Bay basin.
The 2011 drilling programme will once again use a dual rig strategy which demonstrates Cairn's commitment to safety as well as provides increased operational capability and flexibility. The primary vessel, the Ocean Rig Corcovado, is a high-efficiency, sixth generation dynamically positioned drillship. The second vessel, the Leiv Eiriksson is a dynamically positioned semi-submersible. Both rigs are designed and equipped for working in harsh environments and are operated by Ocean Rig.
In December, Cairn was awarded an 87.5% interest in three blocks in the Baffin Bay bid round: Ingoraq, Napariaq and Pitu.
During the summer of 2010, Cairn completed three exploration wells in the Sigguk block, offshore West Greenland in water depths of 300–500 metres. The exploration programme was focused on safety and used two state-of-the-art drilling vessels – the Stena Forth, a drillship, and the Stena Don, a semi-submersible drilling rig. These were supported by a range of vessels, including: six ice management vessels; two emergency response and rescue vessels; two supply vessels; one support vessel; and a wareship for crew accommodation.
While none of the wells encountered thick reservoirs, the 2010 drilling campaign proved that the Baffin Bay basin is hydrocarbon-generative.
Cairn conducted a number of seismic, seabed, environmental and ice-monitoring baseline surveys, with no injuries or environmental incidents.
Cairn assigned a 10% interest in its six operated blocks offshore Greenland to PETRONAS International Corporation Ltd.
Cairn acquired its blocks offshore south Greenland, called Kingittoq, Saqqamiut, Salliit and Uummannarsuaq.
Cairn was awarded exploration licenses for the Sigguk and Eqqua blocks.
Also in 2007, Cairn secured an interest in the Atammik and Lady Franklin blocks, which are operated by Encana.
