Offshore staff
STAVANGER, Norway – KCA Deutag has started drilling operations with the new Cat J jackupAskeladden on the Gullfaks field in the Norwegian North Sea.
Statoil and its co-licensees acquired the newbuild rig, constructed in South Korea, for production and exploration drilling on Gullfaks Satellites. Start-up had to be delayed until last month, due to weather-related issues.
Gunnar Nakken, head of the operations west cluster at Statoil said, theAskeladden would help extend Gullfaks’ productive life beyond 2030.
Initially it is plugging two existing wells with the spare slots then re-use for new well targets. One well will be side tracked into the Rimfaks Lomvi prospect at a depth of 4,200 m (13,779 ft) to explore for new hydrocarbon deposits.
Currently Statoil plans to use the rig for 11 wells during its first two years of operation. KCA’s contract runs for eight years.
According to drilling superintendent Carlos Kauffmann: “This is a very exciting rig which is well prepared for a digitalized future, and can start using almost any new technology.
“It has a subsea blowout preventer, which is not common on jackup rigs. That makes it an excellent working platform for improved work efficiency, and reduces our need to wait on weather. Our challenge will be to utilize the weather windows properly, and avoid moving the rig in the winter season.”
Sister rig theAskepott began development drilling at Oseberg Vestflanken 2 in the North Sea in February.
04/05/2018
