Forprosjekt. Subsea drilling module

As part of its technology gap analysis, Wellbore Solutions AS has identified a market need for remotely controlled sub-sea drilling robots for pre-drilling of wells. Drilling of sub-sea wells is highly expensive as rig rates often is around 2-250,000 USD per day. Also, it becomes more and more challenging to reach the un-harvested reservoirs, which are often located in deep water. Light drilling and well intervention concepts using smaller vessels have been develop in recent years in order to reduce dril ling and intervention costs. The present project presents a concept for drilling of wells using a sub-sea drilling module. The module is remotely controlled from a light vessel, self-propelled and equipped with a complete drilling rig. The Norwegian oi l & gas industry has become world leading in sub-sea control systems. It is the aim of the project to use this existing knowledge and technology base to take a step further and bring parts of the drilling process sub-sea. Large synergies are expected also from co-operation with the competent Norwegian industry within drilling equipment. The main benefits would be to avoid heave-compensation equipment and expensive drilling rigs for obtaining a more cost-effective drilling process. Shell and ENI-Agip stu dies on subsea drilling confirms this technology trend, and in Australia a remotely operated drilling robot concept has been tested. The initial development will cover geological drilling and sampling of core, but the plan is to continue the project towa rds drilling of wells. Concept is as follows: - The sub-sea drilling module is remotely controlled from a light supply vessel equipped with an A-frame. - The drilling is self-propelled and is placed on a bottom frame on the seabed. An uplift / ballasting system helps the operation of the module. - Containers with pipe are lifted in place in the module from surface. - The module contains a complete drilling rig with roughneck