Posted on 05/13/2015 10:17:00 AM PDT by thackney
According to US federal records reviewed by the Associated Press, Louisiana-based LLOG Exploration Offshore plans to engage in deepwater drilling in the Macondo reservoir. The AP says Harper's Magazine first reported the drilling plans late Tuesday.
The BSEE green-lighted LLOG's permit to drill a new well near the Macondo site on April 13. Last October, the company's exploration plan was approved after the conclusion of an environmental review conducted by the BOEM.
Referring to the 2010 Macondo incident which occurred in the same reservoir, LLOG's vice president for deepwater projects, Rick Fowler, told the AP, "Our commitment is not to allow such an event to occur again...LLOG staff keeps the memory of what happened...fresh in our minds throughout our operations, both planning and execution."
The Macondo reservoir is located in the GOM's Mississippi Canyon. The region is divided up into blocks. BP’s Macondo well was located in Mississippi Canyon Block 252.
LLOG has drilled eight wells in the Mississippi Canyon region since 2010 in “analogous reservoirs at similar depths and pressures,” Fowler told the AP. He added that the company has drilled more than 50 wells in the GOM since 2002.
He said LLOG has assessed the probes into the Macondo incident and “ensured the lessons from those reports are accounted for in our design and well procedures.”
Regulators approved dividing up Mississippi Canyon Block 252 last year. BP still owns 270 acres of the block around its Macondo well. LLOG owns the other 5,490 acres of the block.
LLOG's exploration plans calls for drilling into Block 252 from an adjacent block by June, the AP reports federal records indicating. The semi-submersible Sevan Louisiana rig will conduct the drilling.
Sevan Drilling’s UDW rigs are based on Sevan Marine’s unique, proven and patented cylindrical hull design. The Sevan Louisiana is a newbuild in the cylindrical program. A controlling stake in Sevan Drilling was purchased by Seadrill in 2013.
The rig is a sixth gen semi rated for water depths of 10,000 ft. and drilling depths up to 35,000 ft. DP3 station keeping is on board as well as accommodations for 150 crew. The cylindrical design offers more load space, and this rig has a variable deck load of 20,000 mT.
Thackney how is the industry as a whole has recovered if at all with the prices of oil going up ?
Will drilling slowdown less or ramp up ?
The number of active drilling rigs continues to decline as of last week. But the numbers of rigs shutdown per week have greatly declined.
Some suggest this makes it look the bottom of the drop in work is likely near. I tend to agree.
That is an interesting platform. I do not think that I have seen one quite like it.
Sevan Ultra Deep Water Drilling Rig (’UDW’)
http://www.sevandrilling.com/section-9-25-rig-design.html
Independence of environmental directionality
The cylindrical hull shape makes the vessels responses independent of wind, waves and current headings and optimum heading can be selected freely based on on-going operations. Conditions with wind driven waves and swell from different directions will not affect the operation due to the very low pitch and roll motions of the vessel. There is no need for compromising between motions and power consumption in case of bi-directional waves and current and minimum power consumption will be obtained regardless of environmental conditions.
High variable deck load capacity
With the large displacement and stability reserves of the cylindrical hull, the variable deck load capacity is above 15 000 tons. Paired with generous tank capacities this significantly reduces the need for resupply and thus also the logistic cost.
Simplified construction
The cylindrical hull may be built using traditional section building method based on prefabrication of large, pie-slice shaped modules. The lower hull may be assemlied on a slip way, in a dry dock or on a floating barge and with final completion quaside.
Lower hull used for storage
The lower hull of the vessel is utilized for storage of consumable fluids as fuel oil, drilling fluids, dry bulk materials, ballast water and utility systems. Storage of produced oil from extended well tests / early production may optionally be arranged .
Upper level
The upper section of the hull carries the main power generation plants, mud handling systems, derrick with drilling equipment and storage for risers, drill-string, casings, well testing equipment and similar.
Protected moon pool
The drilling operation is executed through the centre moon pool which provides for a protected environment for launch and recovery of the BOP and riser. The completely enclosed moon pool also protects the riser and allows the vessel to safely operate even in ice-infested areas.
Station keeping
The Sevan UDWs are equipped with a dynamic positioning system in accordance with class 3 requirements keeping position by controlling azimuth thrusters. For operation in shallow waters or in areas with ice, a conventional mooring system may be installed in combination with the DP system.
On 13 May 2014, Sevan Drilling received a USD 32.5 million mobilization fee for the Sevan Louisiana. The rig is continuing acceptance testing and is expected to be on rate by the end of May. The Sevan Louisiana is contracted with LLOG in the US Gulf of Mexico for a firm period of 1,095 days and the total revenue potential for the primary contract term is approximately USD 585.5 million inclusive of the mobilization fee.
http://www.sevandrilling.com/xmlfeed-11-51-0-1786519-sevan-drilling_asa:_sevan_louisiana_update.html
Nice to have a 3 year contract put in place a couple months before a massive drop in oil prices...
Nice for the Sevan that is, not so much for LLOG....
Reminds me of some proposed warship designs in the late 1890s.
Interesting design (having relatives in the industry, I have seen a wide variety of offshore platforms, but not quite like this). You learn something new every day.
The upswing is bound to happen soon, perhaps this time next month ?
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