Development of the artificial seabed technology and implementation pretrial well in the South China Sea

Abstract

This paper introduces the recent highly significant activity of China Oilfield Services Ltd. (COSL) in the South China Sea, where COSL conducted pretrial drilling in June of 2008. The paper discusses some key research and new practices which led to the fabrication of related equipment which was evaluated in the trial. The market for deepwater drilling in the world has grown over the past 10 years but there are few drilling vessels or platforms suitable for drilling in deepwater or super deepwater. China needs equipment capable of deepwater drilling operations. COSL has some semisubmersible platforms, but they are only considered suitable for operations in water depths less than 475 m. An enabling technology, referred to as an artificial seabed, has been under development by COSL since 2004, and it applies the research results and experiences of many experts in deepwater drilling. COSL hopes this technology will allow drilling to depths of approximately 1 000∼1 500 m with its current platforms. The paper presents research progress and improvements in fabrication and necessary upgrades to equipment for extending deepwater drilling. The pretrial well was executed at a water depth of nearly 500 m. COSL will drill the trial well around 2009 at the same location in the South China Sea.

摘 要

介绍了中海油田服务股份有限公司在中国南海进行的预试井活动, 讨论了将用于深水油田钻井作业的人工海底新技术. 深水钻井市场在最近10 年中处于不断扩张的过程, 目前世界上用于深水和超深水钻采作业的钻井船和平台数目不足.中国目前也需要更多的设备用于深水海洋的钻采作业. 中海油田服务股份有限公司目前拥有的一些半潜式钻井平台可以在水深浅于475 m 的水深中进行作业. 自从2004 年以来, 中海油田服务股份有限公司与挪威公司合作, 进行人工海底技术的研究和改进, 这种技术发展的目标是, 利用较浅水作业的钻井平台, 进行水深1 000∼1 500 m 的油气田的钻井作业. 介绍了该种技术研究和改进的过程, 相关装备的生产和更新. 2008 年6 月, 在中国南海的500 m 水域应用人工海底技术进行了预试验井的作业. 2009 年, 中海油田服务股份有限公司将在中国南海的同一海域进行另一次更深入的实际钻井作业.