Since the Offshore Technology Conference is occurring, we’ve been talking about seaward a considerable amount this week, and I figured I would investigate how seaward penetrating functions.
Being topographically near the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), I’m going concentrate there.
Our new examination of top oil delivering and top gas creating provinces incorporated some large seaward regions. Deepwater regions Green Canyon, Mississippi Canyon and Alaminos Canyon were top twenty for oil creation in the US (Green Canyon #1 and Mississippi Canyon #3), and Mississippi Canyon was #25 for gas creation.
As of late The Lower Tertiary in the GoM has been in the information with enormous potential – 15 billion barrels of oil. Contrast that with EIA assessed 29 billion barrels available for later inland US, and you have an extraordinary investigation opportunity.
To Explore and Produce seaward you want a stage (normally alluded to as an apparatus) from which to penetrate wells, remove item, and as a rule store the oil or gas until it tends to be moved to processing plants or different objections.
[Drillinginfo’s Terry Childs does a week by week gathering of seaward action over on Oilpro, and was an enormous assistance in assembling this post. Much appreciated, Terry!]
Where to penetrate
The Geology of the GoM is generally Jurassic and Cretaceous, when the bowl empowered assortment and dissipation of ocean water, leaving behind aggregations of Salt and Gypsum, which then domed and caught plentiful hydrocarbons.
What sorts of Rigs are there?
There are three essential apparatus types. Jackups, semisubmersibles and drillships make up most of the seaward apparatus armada and all are utilized around the world. Other apparatus types, for example, stage rigs, inland freight ships and delicate helped rigs are utilized too, however they are less in number and are for the most part utilized in explicit geographic regions.
Jack-ups – Used for shallow water penetrating, there are two jackup types; autonomous leg jackups make up most of the current armada. They have legs that infiltrate into the ocean bottom and the body raises and down the legs. Mat-upheld jackups are by and by utilized uniquely in the U.S. GoM. As the name infers, the mat lays on the ocean bottom during boring tasks. Cantilever jackups can slip out over the stage or well area, while space units have an opening that fits around a stage when penetrating improvement wells.
Semisubmersibles – Used for deepwater boring, these drifting apparatuses have segments that are ballasted to stay on the spot either by securing lines moored to the ocean bottom or by powerful situating frameworks. They are utilized for both exploratory and advancement penetrating.
Drillships – Also utilized for deepwater boring, these boat molded drifting apparatuses move from one area to another under their own power. They are fit for working in more far off areas and require less stockpile boat trips than do semis. They are kept up with on the spot by means of dynamic situating situation, and the vast majority of the apparatuses right now under development are drillships.
Stage Rigs – These are independent apparatuses that are set on fixed stages for field advancement penetrating. Some are called self-raising and can be manipulated up in as little as a couple of days. Other bigger units require a derrick barge to be introduced and can require as long as about fourteen days to be manipulated up. Whenever boring is finished, the apparatus is taken out from the stage.
Delicate Assist Rigs – There are something like 25 of these apparatuses left in presence, utilized generally in West Africa and Southeast Asia. They are monohull units that are secured close to a stage. The apparatus is then introduced onto the stage, while all the power, stockpiling and different capacities stay on the delicate.
Inland Barges – These apparatuses are exceptionally adjusted for inland waters near shore. They are utilized in the GoM just as different spaces of the world.
What are the parts of an Offshore Rig?
This picture shows a portion of the significant parts of a seaward semisubmersible apparatus:
Body – at first apparatuses were worked out of big hauler frames, so the phrasing remains
Power Module – changes over accessible fuel into power for the station
Process Module – onboarding and offloading of provisions and items
Boring Module – the conventional boring apparatus device
Quarters Module – where the team dozes and eats
Wellbay Module – admittance to the well and other gear
Derrick – the oil derrick
Who fabricates Offshore Rigs?
There are a few shipyards all over the planet that form seaward apparatuses. The greater part of the significant yards are in Southeast Asia and the Far East and there are different offices in the Middle East and others being set up in Brazil. Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea, and Keppel Corporation in Singapore are two of the bigger apparatus manufacturers on the planet..
How are Rigs moved?
Towing boats are utilized to move jackups and semis for infield moves. At the point when apparatuses are moved starting with one geographic region then onto the next, generally a substantial lift vessel is conveyed, regularly called dry-tow. At times, semis may be what is called wet-towed, in which the apparatus is towed while in the water. Obviously, drillships move under their own power in any circumstance. As one can envision, it very well may be a huge creation to move an apparatus starting with one region then onto the next – another apparatus being underlying Singapore will require 90 days to arrive at the GoM.
Who recruits and runs Offshore Rigs?
Administrators
Clearly oil organizations are the ones that enlist a seaward apparatus. In the Gulf of Mexico, super-majors BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and ConocoPhillips all have rigs under agreement, and enormous free movers like Anadarko Petroleum and Fieldwood Energy (once Apache) are very dynamic. In many occasions, organizations will accomplice in employing an apparatus, with every administrator included getting the apparatus for a set number of wells or days.
Staffing
Offshore Living Quarters Manufacturers
The Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) has the chief expert on an apparatus during his shift. Past that, there are different positions, all with unmistakable tasks to carry out to keep the apparatus moving along as planned. The quantity of team faculty on an apparatus differs between rig types and where the apparatus is working. There can be just about as not many as 50 and upwards of 200. Considering that as of now north of 200 apparatuses are being constructed, one of the issues confronting the business today is the way they will be staffed. Clearly, a portion of individuals will come from more established apparatuses that are resigned after some time and the team is just is moved to another apparatus. Notwithstanding, there is as yet a huge group lack coming. Oilpro.com took a gander at the current apparatus armada age alongside projected staffing necessities for newbuild rigs.
How profound do Offshore Rigs penetrate?
Contingent upon the apparatus type, seaward apparatuses are evaluated to penetrate in water profundities as shallow as 80 feet to as incredible as 12,000 feet. The best water profundity a jackup can bore in is 550 feet, and numerous more current units have an evaluated penetrating profundity of 35,000 feet. On the drifting apparatus side, the most unimaginable water profundity in presence today is 12,000 feet. A modest bunch of these apparatuses have an appraised penetrating profundity of 50,000 feet, yet the majority of the fresher units are evaluated at 40,000 feet.
Administrations?
How would they get supplies to a seaward apparatus? Supply boats is the appropriate response. These vessels make routinely planned excursions to and from the apparatuses, bringing essential gear, food and different supplies. Teams are for the most part moved by one or the other helicopter or group boats, contingent upon how far the excursion is.
How would they get creation out? Oil or potentially gaseous petrol creation is associated by a stream line to another office or interfaces into a huge breadth trunk line that is making a beeline for the inland area for handling. More up to date innovation includes a Floating Production System Offloading (FPSO) which can store oil in its structure where it is subsequently shipped to shore. While this is a demonstrated innovation all over the planet, it is a few seconds ago beginning to be utilized in the GoM.
Global Distinctions?
Albeit in this post I zeroed in on the GoM, our DI International items have explained offered blocks, exploring reports, and broad article data for round the world seaward chances. On the off chance that you’re interested with regards to Angola or the North Sea or Vietnam, we can assist you with exploring.
