Filed from Houston
10/15/2007 7:48:20 PM GMT
USA/GULF OF MEXICO: On-site work has started at the Shell-operated Perdido development in the Alaminos Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico.
Noble Drilling semi Noble Clyde Boudreaux, which completed refurbishment in Mississippi before traveling 580 miles (933 km) to the Perdido site, will drill a 20-well batch set, pre-drilling the wells. After the regional direct vertical access spar arrives, Shell will finish drilling the wells, complete them and commence production. Once moored on Alaminos Canyon Block 857, the spar will be the deepest spar production facility in the world in about 8,000 feet (2,438 m) of water. The facility will be capable of processing 130,000 BOE/d. First production from Perdido is expected around the turn of the decade.
Noble Clyde Boudreaux was built to Shell specifications to operate in ultra-deep waters and withstand hurricane force winds. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Shell and Noble engineers re-designed the mooring system. The semi has 16 mooring legs, can be moored in 10,000 feet (3,048 m) of water and should survive a hurricane as powerful as Katrina. The rig also is equipped with two derricks, allowing for dual activity. Operators can drill one well, run casing with the other rig floor and move the rig back and forth.
Noble Clyde Boudreaux is expected to remain at Perdido until around the turn of the decade, continuing to work even after the spar is installed. The rig, which has hull dimensions of 271 feet by 228 feet (83 m by 69 m) can house up to 200 people.
The Shell-operated Great White field on Alaminos Canyon Blocks 812, 813, 814, 857, 900 and 901, the Tobago field on Alaminos Canyon Block 859 and the Silvertip field on Alaminos Canyon Block 815 will be developed via the Perdido spar, which will be installed near the Great White field. The spar is owned jointly by Shell with 35 percent interest, Chevron with 37.5 percent interest and BP with 27.5 percent interest.
http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=2&storyid=6005
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