More on Suriname from Staatsolie's March 2010 newsletter:
Floating Ship in the Swamp
Swamp exploration drilling operations in Coronie and Nickerie are almost there. Drilling contractor Althev introduces its new, advanced oilrig. Its just like a big floating ship in the swamp; its awe-inspiring.
Drilling operations in Coronie and Nickerie are included in Staatsolies 2008-2012 exploration programs. The exploration of these and other areas must yield at least 64 million barrels of new onshore reserves by the end of 2012. Operations in Coronie are conducted by Staatsolies subsidiary Paradise Oil Company and its joint-venture partner Tullow Oil. Nickerie is an entirely Staatsolie operation. Operations in Coronie will take place in vast, very difficult accessible swamp area. The existing conditions required the construction of a special oilrig.
Floating Ship The size (approx. 1,200 sq.mtrs) and equipment of the oilrig, the Toucan II, are awesome. You could consider it a giant floating ship in the swamp, a breathtaking sight, says Enos Thomas, Exploration Drilling Superintendent. He manages the exploration drilling programs for the Exploration Division. The Toucan II operates on the stable hovercraft principle. A hovercraft is a vehicle that moves on an air cushion. The air cushion, which surrounds the rig, enables the contraption to move easily through every kind of area. The air cushion lifts the rig and its equipment, which weigh some 400 tons. Excavators then give it a push, causing it to float, says Thomas. Althev has been using a similar system for some years already, the Toucan I. That oilrig was also assembled in Suriname.
Flexibility The rig measures some 30 x 40 meters and is composed of three linked pontoons. This construction makes the rig safer. The advantage is that the rig maintains stability even in very swampy conditions. It houses the drill, the working spaces, the prop engines for creating the air cushion and the crews quarters.
The pontoons were manufactured in the United States, shipped to Suriname and assembled by our own people, says Kevin Thompson, Operations Director with Althev. This is quite an improvement compared to Toucan I, which consists of one unit welded together. If necessary the Toucan II can be reconstructed for transport. Another difference with its predecessor is that the Toucan II can drill deeper. This will come in handy for the Nickerie operations. Thomas explains that 1,800 meters deep wells have been prepared for Nickerie. The new rig can drill up to 2,000 meters, compared to Toucan I, which makes it only to a max of 1,000 meters.
Preparations Preparations for the Coronie and Nickerie exploration operations started four years ago. In the first phase the available geological data was studied to determine the drilling sites. The 2008-2009 seismic survey data was then used for a more accurate orientation. The available data then enabled technical and logistical preparations.
The oilrig is built to Staatsolies specifications. The design phase took much time. The biggest challenge was the logistics for a project of this magnitude. The most important parts had to be imported. The pontoons for the rig were ordered in 2007; construction in Suriname started in July 2009.
Approval Since the rig will be operating in swamp area, Staatsolie had an environmental study carried out. The findings state minimal or no lasting effects on the environment. Based on these, the National Institute for Environment and Development in Suriname gave its approval.
The Toucan II was subject to an intensive and thorough testing period (acceptance tests). Only after it was declared safe and reliable for operations the oilrig was certified, and it is now swamp-worthy. The acceptance tests were carried out by an American firm specialized in this field. The Toucan II will drill five wells for Paradise Oil Company in Coronie in April 2010, after which the rig will continue towards Nickerie in the latter half of 2010.
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