Jibda t-thaffir ghaz-Zejt f'Ghawdex

Il-lum jinæata bidu lix-xoæol tat-taófir fil-bir strateíiku 'Madonna taú-Úejt' fil-Vapur, limiti ta' Kerðem. Æal din l-okkaújoni ta' qofol, l-Onor Prim Ministru, Dr Alfred Sant, úar il-post fejn gie mdawwar mas-Sur Federico Bulf, il-kap dinji tal-óidmiet tas-Saipem li niúel Malta apposta æal dil-írajja. Mal-Prim Ministru kien óemm il-Ministru Joe Mizzi, is-Segretarju Parlamentari æal Æawdex, Dr Anton Refalo, u l-Maííur Paul Gauci ta' Kerðem.

Dit-taqsima tal-óidma íiet wara tliet xhur ta' tóejjijiet qliel u bla qtuæ marbutin mal-bini tal-makkinarju tat-taófir, il-íarr tat-taæmir u t-twaqqif ta' binja tar-rig æolja 57 metru. Kienu meótieía tliet vapuri mæobbijin sa ruó ommhom biex iíorru t-taæmir u materjal ieóor minn Ravenna fl-Italja æal Æawdex. Biex jitnaqqas ix-xkiel lit-traffiku fit-toroq il-íarr sar dirett mill-Imíarr f'Æawdex u t-taæmir inóatt u níarr sal-post fis-siæat li fihom it-traffiku ma kienx qawwi.

Ir-rig æandu l-óila jóaffer sa 6000 metru u huwa meqjus bóala wieóed mill-aqwa li hemm fl-industrija tat-taófir. Huwa mæammar b'íeneraturi sound-proofed, pompi tal-óama sound-proofed sabiex ikun jista' jsir xoæol f'imkejjen ambjentali sensittivi bóal parki nazzjonali u nóawi urbani. Ir-rig jitóaddem 24 sieæa kull jum minn úewí gajjiet fuq úewí postijiet u óaddiema oórajn ta' appoíí li fih aktar 35 ikunu móaddmin il-óin kollu.

It-taqsima tat-taófir mistennija tieóu bejn wieóed u ieóor sitt xhur. Il-bir ta' 5000 metru biú-úmien jibda jipprovdi taærif siewi fuq il-íeoloíija ta' taót il-wiðð li hemm f'Æawdex li mistennija tkun tfisser it-tkomplija tan-nofsinhar tal-provinðja li fiha ú-úejt fil-lbið ta' Sqallija. Tentattiv bóal dan kien sar f'Malta fl-1958 meta bir ta' 3000 metru ma tax l-ammont meótieí ta' úejt fin-Naxxar. Fid-dawl ta' dan kollu, l-æarfien íeoloíiku ta' l-inóawi tant údied li qieæed jissuííerixxi li hemm formazzjonijiet prospettivi fl-inóawi ta' Æawdex.

Qabel iú-újara fil-post, il-mistiedna distinti u l-istampa næataw preúentazzjoni teknika minn Saipem fil-Grand Hotel ta' l-Imíarr.

Commencement of Drilling operations in Gozo

Today marked the commencement of drilling operations on the stratigraphic well 'Madonna Taz-Zejt' at Il-Vapur in the limits of Kercem. To mark the occasion, the Prime Minister, Dr Alfred Sant, visited the site and was shown around by Mr Federico Bulf, SAIPEM`s head of worldwide operations who came to Malta purposely for the event. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister without Portfolio, Mr Joe Mizzi, Parliamentary Secretary for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo and the Mayor of Kercem, Mr Paul Gauci.

This phase of activity follows over three months of intensive and uninterrupted preparations related to the construction of the drilling pad, mobilisation of equipment, and the erection of a rig structure 57 meters high. Three ship-loads were needed to mobilise the equipment and other material from Ravenna in Italy to Gozo. To minimize inconvenience to road traffic the shipments were made direct to Mgarr in Gozo and the equipment was unloaded and transported to the site during the low-traffic hours.

The rig has a maximum capability to drilling to 6000m and is considered one of the best top-drive rig available in the drilling industry. It is equipped with sound-proofed power generators, sound-proofed mud pumps and sound-proofed derrik floor in order to enable operations in environmentally sensitive places such as national parks and urban areas. The rig is operated 24 hours a day by two site-crews and other support staff in which over 35 local personnel are engaged on a full time basis.

This drilling phase is expected to take approximately 6 months to complete. The 5000 meter well will eventually provide valuable information on the sub-surface geology of Gozo which is beleived to represent the southern continuity of the oil producing province of SE Sicily. A similar attempt was made in Malta in 1958 when a 3000 meter well failed to encounter productive formations at Naxxar. Since then, the geological knowledge of the region has increased considerably to suggest that prospective formations may lie in the area of Gozo.

Prior to the site visit the distinguished persons and the press were treated to a technical presentation by SAIPEM at the Grand Hotel in Mgarr.