The deepwater drillship Pacific Sharav arrived in Keathley Canyon to begin work for Chevron. The drillship is the fifth for Chevron to work in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
According to data from the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the drillship will be working in Keathley Canyon block 785 at Chevron's Buckskin prospect.
The Pacific Sharav is a Samsung 12000-design, dynamically-positioned drillship. It is specially modified to accept a dual gradient drilling system. The ship is capable of operating in moderate environments and water depths up to 12,000ft, and is equipped to drill down to 35,000ft with a maximum drill depth of 40,000ft. The Pacific Sharav has a 22,000-tonne variable deck load capacity. It also comes with accommodations for 200.
Chevron and the drillship’s owner, Pacific Drilling, signed a five-year contract for the Pacific Sharav, beginning 27 August 2014. The contract is estimated to be worth US$1 billion. Currently, the drillship’s day rate is listed at $555,000, according to Pacific Drilling’s 3 October fleet status report. Samsung Heavy industries delivered the Pacific Sharav in May.
“Chevron worked with Pacific Drilling from the very early stages in the design and specifications of the drillship capabilities to ensure the right fit with our drilling program and needs, building on lessons learned and capitalizing on a long-standing business relationship,” said Steve Thurston, vice president, Chevron Deepwater Exploration and Projects, Chevron North America Exploration and Production.
Chevron discovered Lower Tertiary oil in 2008 at its Buckskin prospect in deepwater Gulf of Mexico, located 190mi southeast of Houston, and 44mi west of Chevron’s Jack discovery. Chevron owns and operates Buckskin with 55% interest along with partners Repsol (12.5%), Maersk Oil (20%) and Samson Offshore (12.5%).
Chevron announced in August that FEED work on the Buckskin project will continue into 2015. The supermajor is weighing the option of tying back the nearby Moccasin discovery, 12 mi away, into Buckskin. Chevron awarded WorleyParsons an engineering services contract in July 2013 to handle the preliminary design phase for deepwater subsea architecture, riser interface and topside facility design for the oil and gas production semisubmersible.
Chevron has utilized other Pacific Drilling drillships, including the Pacific Santa Ana in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, which is featured on the cover of OE’s October 2014 issue.
The Pacific Santa Ana began its five-year contract with Chevron in March 2012, at a current day rate of $489,530. It was delivered in 2011, and shares similar specifications including operating in 12,000ft water depth and drilling down to 40,000ft.
In August, the Pacific Santa Ana drilled Chevron’s Anchor-1 prospect in Green Canyon block 807. Results from the prospect are anticipated in early 2015.
Image: Pacific Drilling
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