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The drillship Saipem 12000 left the lease end of March. I have been watching the live satellite map of the area daily from here: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:66.115/centery:22.493/zoom:14
As you will also see the drillship isn't there but other ships are especially the PACIFIC HERON which is a development ship. They are now building the infrastructure on the seabed surface basically.
In mid-March the drill encountered a high pressured zone (what the media has been calling a kick and falsely jumping up and down about)... They had to pull out of hole (POOH) and they then re-entered the well again. The kick off and dog legged the well... Which means instead of drilling straight down they kind of side tracked and tried to drill to the target bottom hole.
Which looks a bit like this:
This was probably completed end of March to an apparent depth 5,000 ish meters. (Not credible media sources for the depth)
Then they probably ran the following tests:
1. DST - Drill Stem Test - to collect fluid samples and do an initial build_up fall off pressure tests.
2. Then they probably did an AOF .Absolute OpenFlow Test... Which is basically opening the well up to maximum flow to find out the deliverability (how well the zone will flow back to surface).
3. Then they probably did an extended pressure buildup test to collect pressure data using gauge recorders to find out what the pool boundaries (how big is the pool). The basically do this by shutting in the well (i.e. now flow) after the step 2 above and just record pressures bottom hole.
4.Tho pressures recorded are analyzed ... You will normally shut-in and record from days to almost weeks ... If not more. You are basically gathering transient pressure data and with enough shut-in you start seeing boundary dominated data if the area of investigation is large enough. Basically, think of it this way....
Imagine in a lake you drop a large stone in the middle of the lake... You then watch the waves travel across the lake to the shores and then you know how big the lake is. (Very simple analogy)
Part 4 is what everyone is waiting for. That pressure data was sent to Houston for analysis. Sometime in April, it takes a couple weeks to analyse by an experienced Well Tester.
So everything you hear in the media about reserves this or that .. or about them still drilling... Please ignore.
Wow... That was long.. sorry.
Yes, I believe they have found oil/gas. We just don't know yet how much.
So it mean there are high chances of oil theft (as you gave example of Nigeria) as Pak has almost every one corrupt in politics, bureaucracy, judiciary etc. Same theft might have been hapening with GCC nations as controlled almost fully by Americans n Europeans.
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Thanks Buddy that is informative will read it detail.I haven't worked offshore and have basic understanding of offshore drilling operations.
Having said that, I think the Pacific Grouse has actually been at the site since the beginning.
It could be part of normal operations to have have a fire fighting vessel on site if they are opening the well up.
"Tug and special Craft"
Anchor handling tug supply vessel
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AHTS Normand Master alongside the Balder at Thunder Horse Oil Field
AHTS Balder Viking handling anchors for the Semi-submersible Platform Transocean Arctic
Examples of AHTS vessels
ROV at work in an underwater oil and gas field. The ROV is operating a subsea torque spanner tool on a valve on the subsea structure.
Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vesselsare mainly built to handle anchors for oil rigs, tow them to location, and use them to secure the rigs in place. AHTS vessels sometimes also serve as Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs) and as supply transports.
Many of these vessels are designed to meet the harsh conditions of the North Sea, and can undertake supply duties there between land bases and drilling sites.[1][2] They also provide towing assistance during tanker loading, deepwater anchor handling, and towing of threatening objects.
AHTS vessels differ from Platform supply vessels (PSVs) in being fitted with winches for towing and anchor handling, having an open stern to allow the decking of anchors, and having more power to increase the bollard pull. The machinery is specifically designed for anchor handling operations. They also have arrangements for quick anchor release, which is operable from the bridge or other normally manned location in direct communication with the bridge. The reference load used in the design and testing of the towing winch is twice the static bollard pull.
Even if AHTS-vessels are customized for anchor-handling and towing, they can also undertake, for example, ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) services, safety/rescue services, and supply duties between mainland and offshore installations.[3]
Here is a quick summary of the type of ships currently on site:
Platform supply vessel
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Platform Supply Vessel
A platform supply vessel (PSV) is a ship specially designed to supply offshore oil and gas platforms.[1] These ships range from 50 to 100 meters in length and accomplish a variety of tasks. The primary function for most of these vessels is logistic support and transportation of goods, tools, equipment and personnel to and from offshore oil platforms and other offshore structures. In the recent years a new generation of platform supply vessel entered the market, usually equipped with Class 1 or Class 2 dynamic positioningsystem.
They belong to the broad category of offshore vessels (OSVs) that include platform supply vessels (PSV's), crane vessels (C/V) and well stimulation well stimulation vessels (WSVs), anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTSVs) and Offshore construction vessels (OCVs). Larger offshore vessels have extensive sophisticated equipment including ROVs and tend to accommodate a larger number of people (more than 100)[2]
CapabilitiesEdit
CargoEdit
Deck cargo
A primary function of a platform supply vessel is to transport supplies to the oil platform and return other cargoes to shore. Cargo tanks for drilling mud, pulverized cement, diesel fuel, potable and non-potable water, and chemicals used in the drilling process comprise the bulk of the cargo spaces. Fuel, water, and chemicals are almost always required by oil platforms. Certain other chemicals must be returned to shore for proper recycling or disposal, however, crude oil product from the rig is usually not a supply vessel cargo.
SupportEdit
Common and specialty tools are carried on the large decks of these vessels. Most carry a combination of deck cargoes and bulk cargo in tanks below deck. Many ships are constructed (or re-fitted) to accomplish a particular job. Some of these vessels are equipped with a firefighting capability and fire monitors for fighting platform fires. Some vessels are equipped with oil containment and recovery equipment to assist in the cleanup of a spill at sea. Other vessels are equipped with tools, chemicals and personnel to "work-over" existing oil wells for the purpose of increasing the wells' production.
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