BP Relied on Cheaper Wells
According to a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal data and a June 19 report from the publication, in recent years BP used a well design that has been called "risky" by Congressional investigators in more than one out of three of its deepwater wells in the Gulf of Mexico, significantly more often than most peers. The design, called "long string" was used on the well that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20. The only other major well design, which is more expensive, includes more safeguards against a natural-gas blowout of the kind that destroyed the Deepwater Horizon. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)
Transocean Sedco Forex Reports Rig Damage
Transocean Sedco Forex Inc., the world's biggest offshore driller, said one of its rigs was damaged by a gas blowout while drilling a well offshore Indonesia for Australia's Santos Ltd. Transocean said all 92 crewmen aboard the jack-up rig Trident IX were evacuated without injury to a service vessel. It said it expected insurance to cover the cost of the damage that appeared to be limited to the drill floor area. The incident which occurred on Thursday in the Madura Straits, offshore East Java, was caused by an uncontrollable release of natural gas which subsequently ignited.
ENSCO Jackup Rig Damaged in Gas Blowout, Fire
ENSCO International Incorporated and Forest Oil Corporation reported that one of ENSCO’s jackup rigs sustained extensive damage while operating in the Gulf of Mexico. ENSCO 51 was on location in Eugene Island Block 273 drilling a development well over a platform (the “A” platform) for its customer, Forest, the operator of the block. Eugene Island Block 273 is located approximately 75 miles offshore. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, March 1, approximately 15 hours after running and cementing a third casing string at approximately 1,650 ft., an annular flow was detected. The volume of the gas discharge continued to increase. All personnel were safely evacuated from the rig. Offshore supply vessels equipped with water cannons were dispatched and began to deluge the platform.
GOM Well Fire Addressed
Callon Petroleum Co. reported that all equipment and manpower were in place to bring the fire on its South Marsh Island Block 261 well in the Gulf of Mexico under control. Sunday afternoon Callon experienced a natural gas blowout while drilling the No. 2 test well at Block 261, located about 70 miles south of Lafayette, La. At the time of the incident all personnel were safely evacuated from R & B Falcon Corp. R & B Falcon/Cliffs Drilling Rig No. 153, which was drilling the well. Adverse weather prevented re-boarding of the drilling rig until Wednesday.
