On May 9, bp advised started drilling the exploration well Ephesus in the west Orphan Basin at about 400 kilometres northeast of St. John’s. Laying in 1,250 meters of water. Ephesus is a high profile exploration well which could open a new oil province in a frontier area.
The ultra-deepwater drillship Stena IceMax is in charge of the drilling operation which could last between two to five months.
In September 2018, bp submitted an Environmental Impact Statement to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (now the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada).
(Source: bp/Government of Newfoundland/CBC – Image: Stena IceMAX in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, before drilling Ephesus /Radio Canada via CBC/P. Butler)