“We can’t provide a specific date/timeline, but Chevron will be indicating publicly when Lona O-55 operations conclude, and we will be available for media interviews at that time.”
Lona O-55 is located roughly 430 kilometres northeast of St. John’s.
Drilling at the site has been underway since May.
Chevron's Lona O-55 well is 2.6 kilometres below the ocean's surface.
A spotlight was thrown on the operation after the Deepwater Horizon drill rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico this spring.
Tens of thousands of barrels a day spewed into the Gulf from the ruptured well.
The disaster became the largest oil spill in history.
Efforts to stop the flow of oil were stymied, in part, by the depth of the well — 1.6 kilometres.
The Lona O-55 well is a kilometre deeper than that.
Chevron has defended its safety record, stressing the company has never had a blowout in deep water.
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) tightened rules in the wake of the Gulf tragedy.
The board expressed confidence in safety measures aboard the Stena Carron, which is drilling at Lona O-55.
This week, the CNLOPB listed the status of Lona O-55 as “suspension/abandonment operations.”
That status means the drilling program is concluding.
According to Chevron’s Murphy, well results at Lona O-55 will remain confidential for up to two years after drilling operations conclude.
“Our focus continues to be on safe and incident-free operations at Orphan Basin,” he noted.
rantle@thetelegram.com
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