The crew will undergo an intensive Israeli-required safety training course designed to educate each employee on working with heavy equipment
Zion Oil & Gas rig and equipment being loaded on a BBC Chartering ship, BBC Bangkok, on November 4, 2020. (Credit: PR Newswire.)
Zion Oil & Gas announces the departure of drilling rig and equipment from Constanta, Romania and en route to Haifa, Israel.
“Despite logistical challenges and Covid-related restrictions, we are encouraged that Zion’s rig and equipment are on their way to Israel,” stated Zion Oil & Gas CEO, Robert Dunn. “We anticipate seamless movement through Israel’s customs and safe movement to our drilling location by mid-November.”
ZION OIL & GAS DRILLING RIG
Zion expects the rig to reach the port of Haifa, Israel, by November 13. Upon customs clearance, the crew is scheduled to satisfy certain protocols required by Israel, and, barring unforeseen circumstances, Zion expects to spud the Megiddo-Jezreel #2 well at our current well location near Bet She’an by early to mid-December 2020.
All necessary equipment and personnel required to perform the complex drilling operation are either en route or already in country. There is an aggressive drilling schedule planned on the Megiddo-Jezreel #2 (MJ02) well location. All parties are working closely together to ensure a seamless and professional operation.
OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Our experienced rig crew has been assembled from Eastern Europe and is completing Israel’s quarantine period. This crew has been with the Zion drilling rig (named “I-35”) for several years prior to Zion’s purchase of it in March 2020.
The crew will undergo an intensive Israeli-required safety training course designed to educate each employee on working with and moving heavy equipment, as well as working from heights.
In addition to the safety training for drilling operations, the crew will undergo an intensive Covid-19 protection and prevention training seminar. Zion Oil and Gas has taken all necessary precautions to ensure each crew member’s health and safety during this unprecedented time.
In addition to the experienced rig crew, Zion is hiring twelve Israelis to begin training and gain experience as Zion moves toward building an indigenous drilling crew to support Zion’s future drilling operations.
“It is an exciting time to be part of God’s plan for exploring for oil in Israel,” Zion’s VP of Operations, Monty Kness, expressed. “The next few months will bring exciting operational developments, and we are thankful for the faithful investors, the believers in Zion Oil and Gas’ operations, and we ask for continued prayers for a safe and successful drilling operation.”
Zion Oil & Gas, a public company, traded on OTCQX Best Market, explores for oil and gas onshore in Israel on their 99,000-acre Megiddo-Jezreel license area.
Source: Company Press Release