US: 88 Energy provides operations update 02 Mar 2021 NPR-A region of the North Slope of Alaska. Highlights Details 88 Energy reports that the mobilisation of Rig 111 to the Merlin-1 location is progressing well, with only minor delays due to weather. The spud date is now scheduled for 8th March. The Merlin-1 well will initially be drilled to 1,500', then surface casing will be installed and the Blow Out Preventer system tested. This is expected take approx. one week to execute. The well will then be deepened through the target horizons in the Nanushuk Formation to a maximum total depth of 6,000'. Logging while drilling and mudlogging will provide initial indications as to the prospectivity of the well during this part of the operation, which is expected take three to five days. A sophisticated wireline logging suite will then be run, including sidewall cores and downhole sampling. Wireline logging is expected to take five to seven days.