Noble Drilling preparing alloy riser for ultra-deepwater unit

摘要

Record water depth wells were drilled over a seven-month span in 1999 by Noble Drilling Corporation, and the firm is preparing to set another possible record water depth well during the first half of 2000. The triangular semisubmersible Noble Paul Wolff recently drilled a well for Petrobras in 8,816 ft of water offshore Brazil. The unit has displayed motion characteristics that have resulted in time and cost savings for Petrobras. To enable the rig to drill in even deeper waters, Noble Drilling is developing an alloy riser that could be as much as 40% lighter than conventional steel risers.