Several wells underway in ultra-deepwater
BHP Petroleum set a new record for deep-water drilling in American waters with the drilling of a well on Walker Ridge 425. BHP Petroleum drilled an exploratory well in 8,835 ft water depth, surpassing the earlier GOM record set by Marathon Oil in 7,997 ft water depth in February 1999. The well was drilled on Walker Ridge 165.
The BHP well is the second deepest in the world, surpassed by a well drilled off Brazil in 9,111 ft water depth, the Minerals Management Service of the US Department of Interior said. Also, the MMS said a number of wells are being drilled simultaneously in ultra-deepwater - at least 7,000 ft water depths. "It is exciting to see the continued focus on deepwater oil and gas activity in the Gulf of Mexico," said MMS Director Walt Rosenbusch. "Beyond the record depths and record levels of activity, we are continuing to see new geologic plays unfold."
Deep exploration finds hydrates, storms
Gulf exploration by deep-diving human-occupied submersible Alvin confirmed frozen methane gas hydrate deposits trapped in ice as a promising new energy source. "Ocean exploration and expeditions like this one are helping unravel the mysteries of the ocean. The findings from this mission will inspire new developments with far-reaching benefits," said D. James Baker, NOAA administrator.
Bisso Marine's new 250 ton revolving crane, the D/B Boaz, is shown working in Eugene Island 119. It has also completed the swap out of a 90-ton compressor on a platform at Grand Isle 102.
The research also provided evidence of violent undersea storms that result from strong currents arising suddenly and sweeping along the base of the escarpment. The undersea storms have enough power to threaten energy production platforms in deepwater. "We have answered a few questions, and asked a whole lot more. This era of ocean exploration comes at a time when the keys to the past, and the energy supplies for the future, may indeed lie in the deeper parts of the ocean," said Ian Mac Donald, Alvin Exploration chief scientist.
Green Canyon find confirmed
Remington Oil and Gas reported that the Green Canyon 48 No. 1 well has confirmed the Eugene Island 397 oil discovery. Drilling and logging operations at Green Canyon 48 No. 1, located in 472 ft water depth, have been finalized. Remington owns a 37.5% working interest in the field, and W&T Offshore Inc. (the oper-ator) has a 50% working interest. Magnum Hunter Resources Inc. owns the remaining 12.5% working interest.
Spinnaker's High Island find
Spinnaker Exploration Co. reported its High Island A-7 No. 3 well found productive sands at three intervals. The High Island A-7 field is in 40 ft water depth east of Spinnaker's 75%-owned High Island 202 field complex. All gas from the A-7 field will be processed at Spinnaker's High Island 199 facility. A separate B platform has been designed to accommodate the A-7 No. 3 well as well as 2-4 additional wells that are likely to be drilled in the field.
Construction of the B platform will begin shortly. Spinnaker plans to set and cement productive casing to about 15,300 ft in the High Island A-7 No. 3 well before drilling to further test lower Rob sands. Production from High Island A-7 No. 3 is anticipated in the second or third quarter of 2001. The High Island A-7 No. 4 will begin drilling after completion of the High Island A-7 No. 3. Operator Spinnaker has 61%, BP has 17.8%, and Fidelity Oil Holdings Inc. has 13.9%.
BP awards operation contract
GreyStar won a BP contract for Eastern Gulf of Mexico production operations. Under the three-year contract, GreyStar will operate and maintain BP properties offshore Louisiana. GreyStar already had the contract for the same function for BP properties in the Central Gulf of Mexico.
Seismic acquisition planned
Samson Offshore signed a contract with Baker Hughes' Western Geophysical division to buy 7,200 sq miles of seismic data off Louisiana. Samson Co-CEO Jack Schanck said the purchase "lays the foundation for the expansion of Samson's exploration activities in this region, both through leasing and acquisition."
Harbor Island yard to re-open
J. Ray McDermott, a McDermott International subsidiary, is reactivating the Harbor Island fabrication facility. The company expects Harbor Island, located on the mainland adjacent to Port Aransas, Texas, to be fully reactivated early next year, employing about 250 fabrication workers, J. Ray McDermott President Bobby Rawle said.
"We expect that Harbor Island will once again serve as a premier construction base for companies pursuing deepwater oil and gas projects in the Gulf of Mexico." Harbor Island, which has been idle since 1996, produced steel platform jackets and other offshore platform components up to 36,000 tons.
CSO to build spoolbase
Coflexip Stena Offshore will build a $10 million rigid pipe spoolbase in Alabama to support its offshore pipelay and construction work with deepwater pipeplay vessel CSO Deep Blue and rigid reel-lay vessel CSO Apache. Planned are a deepwater dock, access roads, rail access, storage areas, and infrastructure for high specification pipe welding, preparation, and loading. The first project will be the Boomvang Nansen export pipeline contract for the CSO Deep Blue.
