ATPG telemark may be ok

[setliff]

according to this Completion wells can continue operating under moratorium


* Companies had to submit plans Tues. on shutting wells
* Completion wells can continue operating under moratorium
* MMS reviewing plans for 33 offshore drilling operations
By Tom Doggett and Ayesha Rascoe
WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - Some companies exploring for oil in deep waters that have their wells targeted for shutdown under the Obama administration's offshore drilling ban can continue to operate if certain conditions are met, a government official said on Wednesday.
The administration has said 33 rigs operating in deep water in the Gulf of Mexico need to shut down for six months while a presidential commission investigates last month's explosion of the drilling rig leased by BP Plc (BP:$37.0063,$0.4863,1.33%) that resulted in the biggest oil spill in U.S. history.
For a FACTBOX listing the rigs' owners: [ID:nN02184586]
Oil companies, however, could ask to continue operations if specific activities are carried out that would make them exempt from the drilling moratorium, according to the Interior Department.

Companies doing completion wells -- readying an exploratory well for commercial oil or gas production -- would be allowed to continue their work, an Interior Department official said.
During the completion process, a company strengthens the well hole with casing, evaluates pressure and then installs equipment to ensure oil or gas is flowing efficiently out of the well.


More than a dozen oil companies had to file operational plans by Tuesday for their 33 offshore exploratory wells, according to the department.
"We hope to get something soon ... saying which are closed, which are closing and when the rest will close, and if any are not going to be able to close because of completions," the official said.
Chevron (CVX:$72.85,00$0.56,000.77%) told Reuters on Wednesday it was closing an exploratory well to comply with the White House's drilling moratorium and that it already had shut another deepwater well.
"The six-month drilling ban may have a significant impact on our drilling program," a Chevron (CVX:$72.85,00$0.56,000.77%) spokeswoman said.
Marathon Oil Corp (MRO:$30.844999,$0.654999,2.17%) has said it was in the process of suspending drilling at its Innsbruck well to abide by the moratorium.
To make sure a company does not try to get around the six-month ban by claiming it is doing a completion well, MMS inspectors may have to fly out to inspect the rig in question. The company would have to provide drilling statistics and readings, the official said.
Other offshore activities that would not be subject to the the moratorium are operations to replace a well's damaged tubing or equipment, and activities to safely close or abandon a well.
In addition, necessary interventions to sustain reservoir pressure in production wells and to drill emergency relief wells, along with waterflood, gas injection and disposal wells, would be allowed under the moratorium, the department said.
Companies seeking to continue offshore operations must analyze the risks of the requested drilling or activities, including the risk of losing control of the well and how the company would respond if that happened. (Editing by Walter Bagley)

[dan_s]

I recommended to ATPG that they make a press release as soon as they know the status of MC 941 #3.

MC 941 #2 and #4 have to be deepened so they will not pass.

I also think a couple of the Canyon Express wells should pass the test.

ATPG should bounce back if they can move forward on these projects.

Dan