Smedvig
secures contract for drilling related services in Japan
Posted: 23 June 2003
Smedvig has been awarded a letter of intent by Global Ocean Development
Inc. in Japan for the provision of drilling related services to
the Chikyu deepwater research vessel project.
The provision of services includes specialist personnel for the
supervision and follow-up of the installation and commissioning
activities related to the drilling packages on the vessel, assistance
with operations preparations and test programme development and
the provision of personnel for drilling operations.
The deepwater drillship Chikyu, which is under construction at
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, will be used by the Centre
for Deep Earth Exploration (CDEX), as part of Japan’s “Ocean
Drilling in the 21st Century” (OD21) programme. This programme
is again part of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme, which
is an international scientific research co-operation between the
USA, Japan and the EU. Chikyu is owned by Japan Marine Science and
Technology Centre (JAMSTEC), who reports to the Japanese Government’s
Ministry of Science and Technology.
Smedvig will provide to the project some 8 –10 specialists
during the project phase and between 45 – 50 people will be
involved in the operations phase. The contract value for the initial
part of the project is approximately NOK 20 million.
Chikyu will be one of the most advanced drilling vessels in the
world when it goes into operation in mid 2005. The vessel is designed
to operate in water depths up to 4, 000 metres with riser and BOP
and in water depths up to 7, 000 metres in a riser-less mode. Further,
it will have the capacity to handle a drill string length up to
12, 000 metres. In addition to the drilling facilities, living quarters,
etc., there is a four-storey laboratory block, which is outfitted
with the latest scientific and research equipment for use by the
50 scientists who will be on board the vessel. Chikyu, which means
“Earth” in Japanese, is to be utilised in a scientific
research programme to better understand the earth’s geophysical,
geological and environmental systems. The base for the operations
will be in Japan, although the operating region for the Chikyu is
expected to be worldwide.
“The Chikyu assignment is an exiting pioneer project which
offers Smedvig a special opportunity to demonstrate our extensive
deep water competence and experience. Furthermore, it will provide
us with an opportunity to gain additional valuable experience at
the very forefront of deepwater drilling developments,” says
CEO Kjell E Jacobsen in Smedvig asa.
or more information see www.smedvig.no
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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