ERHC Energy Inc (ERHE)

[lsm39_2000]

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The problem is that the 36" casing will be pile-driven into the soft sediments on the sea floor, and probably will not be cemented in place. The hole for the 20" casing will be drilled and the casing set and cemented and pressure tested.

Any rig (on or offshore) has three rams beneath the drill floor;
blind rams to shut off the hole when open, pipe rams to close around drill string when drill pipe is in the hole, and shear rams (Katy bar the door!) which are meant to shear the pipe as a last resort in an emergency.

With only the 36" in the hole, gas will seek it's level and come up the hole, go around the casing through the soft sediment and blow out.

Remember, water is heavier than oil is heavier than gas. Therefore you have segregation of the fluids with gas at the top of the stucture,oil in the middle and finally a water leg at the bottom.

Having gas in the system is good insofar as gas can supply energy to the reservoir by expanding as fluid (oil) is removed.
We won't kwow whether there is also a water-drive until later.

The reason that your friend injects gas is twofold,
1. the gas will energize and lower the viscocity of the system, and,
2. the gas will "lift" the oil out if the hole.

Hope this isn't too much.

Cheers,
Larry