Azerbaijan lines 20,000 PSI drill bit to test Caspian new frontiers

Keppel FELS Ltd. and its subsidiaries, Caspian Rigbuilders and Caspian Shipyard Co. Ltd. (CSC), were commissioned in 2013 by SOCAR’s subsidiary CDC to build the DSS38M semisub, which was priced at $800 million including owner furnished equipment.

With about 70 percent of the blocks assembled and the lower hull erected by the end of March, construction of the semisub now taking place at various locations before its final integration at CSC is progressing well towards the scheduled delivery in December 2016.

The DSS38M semisub design developed by Keppel Deepwater Technology Group and Gusto-Marine Structure Consultants allows for the installation of a future 20K psi BOP system to be installed with "minimal works” required, according to a CDC spokesperson.

"Having one of the first semisub that has the capability to be equipped with a 20K psi BOP allows us to be in a position to support the future drilling operations planned for the Caspian Sea,” the spokesperson said.

CDC has not officially commented on the intended destination field for 20K psi drilling in the Caspian Sea.

Given the restricted access to the Caspian Sea, however, the CDC DSS38M semisub could be well-placed to land a contract with BP Plc should the super major elect to press on with exploration drilling in the Shafag-Asiman block towards the deeper end of Azerbaijan’s hydrocarbon basin.

BP has reportedly identified the DSS38M semisub as a potential candidate last year for the Shafag-Asiman block, which holds estimated 17.66 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) or 500 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of gas resources plus associated condensate. Spanning 425 square miles (1,100 square kilometers), the offshore block lies in between 2,132 and 2,625 feet (650 and 800 meters) of water, with reservoir depth of about 22,966 feet (7,000 meters). BP is undertaking interpretation of acquired 3D seismic and expects to commence exploration drilling by the end of 2016.

 Shafag-Asiman lies in the deeper water Azerbaijan basin, where reservoir pressure and temperature is projected to range up to 19,000 psi and 350 degrees Fahrenheit, beyond the 15,000 psi and 250 degree Fahrenheit caps on existing rigs.

Prior to the Shafag-Asiman campaign, the CDC DSS38M semisub has reportedly been committed to a drilling program in SOCAR’s Babek field.

The construction of the DSS38M is done in various locations; the lower and upper columns were constructed in Keppel FELS in Singapore and the pontoon and upper hull blocks in Baku Shipyard and CSC in Azerbaijan.

 

(rigzone.com)