Custom-designed drillship will probe ultra-deepwater domain

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Petroleum Engineer International

OSTI ID:445641

Ghiselin, D

A joint-venture of Conoco and Reading and Bates (R and B) will launch a $200 million ultra-deepwater drillship in the Gulf of Mexico in 1998. Rich deepwater prospects--with an overall potential of more than 10 billion boe--will be probed in a 5-year, 15- to 20-well, $400 million exploration program. Although the project was only announced at the beginning of November 1996, the experience and technology necessary to implement it have been building for more than a decade. The project`s viability comes from the simultaneous culmination of 3-D seismic exploration technology, deepsea drilling experience and equipment development, subsea completion technology, and naval architecture in double-hull tanker design. While others, like bathers at the beach, have been tentatively testing the chilly waters with their toes, Conoco/R and B has boldly taken an Olympic-class plunge, designing their drillship to drill in up to 10,000 ft of water. Conoco and R and B are focusing on 60 deepwater blocks, stepping up their efforts to acquire and evaluate 3-D seismic so drilling targets can be prioritized by the time the new drillship is delivered. The new rig will be equipped with the latest automatic pipe-handling equipment.

• OSTI ID: 445641
• Journal Information: Petroleum Engineer International, Journal Name: Petroleum Engineer International Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 70; ISSN 0164-8322; ISSN PEEID4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
DEPTH 1-3 KM
DESIGN
DRILL PIPES
EXPLORATORY WELLS
GULF OF MEXICO
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
SHIPS
WELL DRILLING