Brookside Energy has finalised a drilling contract with Kenai Drilling, securing Rig 18 for development drilling activity in the SWISH area of interest (AOI) in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma, US.

According to the company, Rig 18 will relocate to its SWISH AOI after completing its current deployment on a two-well programme in the Ardmore Basin, located south of the SWISH site.

The rig will be employed to drill Brookside’s upcoming two-well development pad at the Suttles site. This includes the Sabres well, targeting the Sycamore Formation, and the Whalers well, targeting the Woodford Formation.

Drilling operations are set to take place consecutively and will continue until both wells are drilled and cased.

Each well is set to include lateral sections extending approximately 1.5 miles. The wells will mirror the orientation of those in the Courbet and Gapstow development areas operated by Continental Resources to the south of Brookside’s acreage.

Preparation of the Suttles pad, which began in late March, is reported to be nearing completion. The company stated that design, planning and procurement for necessary surface facilities such as tank batteries remain in progress.

Brookside anticipates completing construction of these facilities before Rig 18 arrives, which it says should enable a seamless transition from drilling through to production and sales.

Brookside managing director and CEO David Prentice said: “Securing Rig 18 advances our next phase of development in the SWISH AOI, and we look forward to working with Kenai again, who have supported us throughout the development of our SWISH AOI acreage.

“With site preparation nearing completion and planning well advanced, we are well positioned to move directly into drilling once the rig is released from its current commitments.”