The first exploration well on Shah Deniz in Azerbaijan's sector of the Caspian was re-entered on 16 December by the Istiglal drilling rig.
Previously named Shelf 5, the semi-submersible will be extending the SDX-1 well originally spudded by Dada Gorgud in the summer and drilled to a depth of 2,500 metres.
Istiglal was delivered to Shah Deniz operator BP on 14 December, following a lengthy period of testing for the rig after conversion work at the Kaspmornefteflot yard outside Baku in Azerbaijan.
"We'll be drilling to a depth of roughly 6,200 metres," reports Torulf Gjedrem, operations manager for the Shah Deniz project. "Plans call for drilling and logging to be concluded during March."
Statoil has a 25.5 per cent interest in Shah Deniz.