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Surge for Seacore's Site Investigation Service
01 May 2003
Since developing its original drilling capability into a total site investigation service last year, Seacore has completed five separate geotechnical marine site investigation contracts for offshore oil and gas projects in the North Sea. Four of these projects were carried out using the company's own in-house designed C100 drill mounted on the new 96m DP3 class vessel Normand Flower, which was chartered from Solstad Shipping.
The C100, with 5m heave compensation, can drill and take samples in water depths up to 2,500m.
The first North Sea project, for client Maersk Oil and Gas AS, was split into two separate locations.
Seacore completed three Cone Penetrometer Tests (CPTs) and a borehole to 20m in 46m of water for spud can penetration analysis for jack-up rigs. Seacore then moved the Normand Flower directly adjacent to a Maersk production platform. Working only 40m from the platform in 45m of water, Seacore drilled an 80m composite borehole and three CPTs 20m below the seabed to determine pile design and check the suitability for the installation of a new jacket.
On completion of that work the Normand Flower was again moved, in turn, to two new locations for client Danish Oil & Natural Gas E&P A/S.
Seacore performed similar work to check spud can penetration analysis for a jack-up platform in 60m of water. This was followed by another move for client Tuscan Energy to perform two 20m deep CPTs to facilitate suction anchor design in 70m of water.
Following a brief return to Hull the Normand Flower was remobilised for client Shell Expro. An 80m composite borehole was completed in 30m of water to check suitability of the ground conditions for a jack-up and to facilitate well tophole design.
MJ Information No: 18213
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