Angus Energy has delayed drilling a sidetrack well at the Saltfleetby gas field in Lincolnshire until spring next year.

The company said in a statement today that procurement of the drilling rig had been “held back by logistical issues”.

It said the sidetrack would not now be drilled until after the production of the first gas at the field, still scheduled for the end of February 2022.

Angus Energy said it wanted to avoid an overrun in drilling that would delay the well commissioning programme. It said:

“Whilst simultaneous drilling and commissioning operations are not considered to be safe, simultaneous drilling and production operations are manageable once the plant can evidence reliable and stable flow of sales gas and good functioning of all safety equipment.

“The Company is preparing for the requisite risk evaluation of a drilling programme commencing in April without disrupting production.”

The statement also included a timeline of deliveries and operations.

Site civil engineering is due from mid-December 2021 to mid-January 2022, the statement said. Pipework welding is scheduled from early January 2022 to the end of February 2022. Electrical, control and instrument installation layout is expected to begin at the end of January 2022.

Shares in Angus Energy fell at midday to 0.71p but at the time of writing had risen to 0.83p.