An Interesting Article
Go out and buy the latest issue of Popular Mechanics (Apr 2008).
There's an excellent article on deep sea oil drilling technology by a visit to the Noble Clyde Bouudreaux rig in the Gulf of Mexico. I learned quite a bit about the state of the art. Pretty amazing technology. They are punching a series of wells for Shell in 8,000 feet of water. The Noble Clyde crew seems to have its shxt together.
It totally reinforces the perspective that we better have a very experienced operating partner who knows what they are doing and hires a good drilling rig. I can only reflect this becomes even more important in the ultra-deep water of the EEZ.
I'm not so sure that one can just hire the expertise required, a crew familiar with a particular rig seem to be a significant factor in effectively drilling on a demanding schedule.
My concern is that the crew of the AA will be at least two years "stale" and even with new people, it is going to take time to break into knowledge of the nuances of the "new" AA. Thus, I would doubt they can maintain the schedule suggested by Kosmos (if Kosmos does not end-up with $$$$ problems). The up side is that the AA crew will be learning on Kosmos' dollar.
Assuming that our "rig of opportunity" IS the AA, I am saddened to note that these break-in learning curves are likely going to effect our vessel drilling availability/opportunity - 2009 seems more conservatively realistic and optimistic than 4th Qtr 2008.
The article has an accompanying map which indicates where the future potential elephant fields may be and, of course, no mention of the GoG.
Sigh......another fort-year? Maybe my kids will reap the reward. I'm in for the duration. The potential of the discovery dwarfs any risk. Long and Long....
