Reliability is key to developing deepwater RCPC

摘要

A government-sponsored study is investigating if this technique can be transferred from onshore applications to a deepwater environment. In the 100+ years since the first offshore well was drilled in California's shallow waters during the late 1800s, offshore drilling technology in the US has advanced dramatically. The first offshore rigs were built on wooden piers that extended from land, but progressive development and investment has resulted in deepwater platforms and drillships that can operate more than 160 km (100 miles) offshore in water depths below 2,438 m (8,000 ft). In the near future, the industry is expected to drive exploration of this previously undrillable ultra-deep area. As developments in drilling technology increase the depth, reach, and overall complexity of deepwater wells, advances in the capabilities of completion tools, materials, and simulation software also are needed.