After a fairly inactive couple of months, tendering activity in Northwest Europe has picked up and both the jackup and floater market are likely to experience a shortfall in 2008. Due to the tight market conditions, contractors can expect day rates to remain firm. UK/IRELAND: ExxonMobil now has plans for only two rig programs in 2008 off the UK and Ireland. The operator had been planning abandonment work in the southern North Sea around mid-2008 using a jackup, but the asset in which this was to take place has been sold to Perenco. In April 2006, ExxonMobil received market inquiries for this program covering three subsea abandonments and two platform abandonments. However, a heavy-duty jackup is required for one exploration well in the central North Sea around second/third quarter 2008 on an as yet undefined location. In addition, a potential deepwater semi requirement exists for a two-well program on the Dunquin prospect in Ireland's Porcupine Basin in 2008 or 2009, depending on rig availability.
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