http://www.somalinet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=246&t=281669I...

http://www.somalinet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=246&t=281669
I think we can assume that there is some truth to 'monks' claim, otherwise why talk in such a positive way, it makes logical sense that work on the rig could be at the stage of setting up before spudding, under strict security?


Re: Oil
by Monk-of-Mogadishu ? Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:54 am

I can't talk about it. Lets just say that everything is taking place as planned, there's just a media blackout on the situation for security reasons. Even the company released statements a few days ago talking about a September drill date and "mobilization" in this Quarter-Year (to throw off the public), but I have documents that show that the equipment has been in Puntland for weeks now, if not months, but the details of the document would endanger security. Remember 2009 when every Somali news company followed the team around taking pictures of the vehicles and survey sites? That's not happening this time around. Ask me what you want to ask and I'll provide you answers, but I'm not putting any links or sources here that would talk about equipment information or progress. Nothing is being released to the public and no access is being given until the well has either spudded or reached its target - which can take up to 8 weeks from today, but there is work going on right now and the site is fully running.

Monk-of-Mogadishu
SomaliNet Heavyweight

Posts: 3216
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:06 pm
Location: Al-Eyl, Wilayah Puntland

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This post courtesy, ian_d -iii

{Some interested opinions on skyscrapercity too which suggest work is already ongoing. I'm not fussed either way, short/medium term Trinidad is our baby (with Georgia and Texas a bonus); Puntland will come good when ready and safe to do so:

"A lot of strange stuff is going on in PL in dealing with this situation. Rumors are saying that drilling work is underway and that PL told told the drilling companies to throw the public off and announce a later date, September. The latest interview with Range Resources director says that Q3 will be mobilization and Q4 will be spudding. From what I hear, there is extreme caution being taken and very heavy security being provided by unknown sources. They are throwing around fake dates across the board and doing everything undercover and docking at night. The equipment mobilization and landing information is out there but it wouldn't be fair if I posted the details - the shipping company is Indonesian and the rig is extremely heavy is what I can tell you for now, and it landed in Bosaso in mid June. What's fact is that the equipment was processed in part in Sharjah and the rest on a different shipment in Suez and its final destination is Bosaso Port. There was an armed escort paid for by the drilling team (or PL, no clue) and followed the parts from Sharjah. None of this information is being published or available but those in the inside crowd know well, I'm lucky to know a few in Bosaso and Dubai. The plan is to make a surprise announcement about spudding, or in a more extreme scenario we'll hear about oil if they wait 2 months for the drill to go deep enough to announce anything. Do not expect news on any Somali mediums anytime soon, there's a tense game at play between PL and Africa Oil in how they'll pursue their mission without attracting attention. Its a lot more private than I thought it'd be, I expected the news to be buzzing like the last time when every reporter in the vicinity made their way to the convoy and documented everything from the landing at Bosaso to the surveys in Bari - it'll be the opposite this time.

This is the latest interview, where the director reiterates the new date, a day after a skirmish in Ufeyn between oil teams & PL and a local clan militia"

"The rig landed in June, the chief drilling company put its stock back on the ASX on July 27, and Africa Oil went to the ground (and was harassed) on July 26, with RR director making the statement about the new dates the same day. Everything points to the spudding actually occurring on-date. The security detail has just complicated the information process. What surprises me more isn't that we didn't hear about a spud but the reasons behind the lack of information." }