Sterling Resources, an international oil and gas company, has provided an update on its 2010 drilling plans in the UK North Sea. The company has said that RWE Dea, the operator of the Quad 42 Breagh field, has informed the company that the rig to drill both the Airidh and Macanta prospects will arrive on or about May 18.

Drilling will commence initially at the Airidh location, with the well anticipated to take approximately 30 days to complete. Sterling maintains a 30% working interest in the greater Breagh area.

The Cladhan prospect on Block 210/29a, which had been anticipated to spud in mid May, subject to the availability of the JW McLean rig, will now commence drilling in late June or early July. The rig has been involved in a longer than expected program with the previous operators and has one more well to drill before moving to Cladhan. Sterling maintains a 39.9% working interest in the Cladhan prospect.

Drilling of the Grian prospect in Block 48 of the UK North Sea is still expected to occur during the third quarter of 2010. Site survey work at the Grian prospect is now underway with Sterling currently holding a 57% working interest.

Stewart Gibson, CEO of Sterling, said: “These changes are reflective of typical operational timings with rigs on multi-well drilling programs in the North Sea. The company continues to move forward with all of its previously announced 2010 drilling plans, albeit on a slightly revised timetable.”