Morocco has barely registered in recent years’ MENA drilling statistics. But that is about to change. Some 31 exploration wells – including seven offshore – are slated to be drilled by the end of 2014 according to state oil firm ONHYM. Two have already been spudded, with a third to follow imminently.

UK independent Cairn began drilling Morocco’s first ever deepwater well at the end of October, a wildcat 120km offshore in 1,500ms water depth on the Foum Draa block off southern Morocco. The ‘FD-1’ well has a planned total depth of 5,500ms with drilling set to take 60 days. (CONTINUED - 444 WORDS)