Sinoe-1 was a deepwater oil and gas exploration well located offshore Liberia, West Africa. Drilled in Block LB-15, it was a significant early exploration effort in the country's nascent offshore hydrocarbon sector.
Location: The well was situated approximately 110 nautical miles (204 kilometers) offshore Liberia, in water depths of around 8,500 feet (2,590 meters). It was part of an exploration block licensed by the Liberian government.
Operator and Partners: The Sinoe-1 well was operated by Chevron Liberia Limited, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. Co-venturers in Block LB-15 included ExxonMobil, Oranto Petroleum, and the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).
Drilling Campaign: Drilling commenced in April 2012 using the Maersk Deliverer ultra-deepwater drillship. The well reached a total depth of approximately 16,140 feet (4,920 meters) and was completed in July 2012.
Results: Upon completion, Chevron announced that Sinoe-1 did not encounter commercial quantities of hydrocarbons. The well was declared a dry hole and subsequently plugged and abandoned.
Significance: The Sinoe-1 well represented one of the initial deepwater exploration attempts in Liberia and was closely watched as an indicator of the potential for oil and gas discoveries in the Liberian basin. Its failure to find commercial hydrocarbons was a setback for the country's aspirations of becoming an oil-producing nation at the time, leading to a temporary reduction in exploration interest in the region.