Developing the Caspian Sea

摘要

Jackups, operators address challenges of world's largest enclosed body of saltwater. The Caspian Sea, bordered by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan, is the largest enclosed body of saltwater in the world, with a 1.2% salinity level. The depth varies from 5 m (16 ft) at the Caspian shelf to 1,025 m (3,363 ft) at its deepest point in the southern part, averaging 196 m (643 ft). Sea levels depend upon the inflow from two rivers, the Volga and the Ural. Evaporation is the only form of sea level regulation, and water levels average 30 m (98 ft) below sea level. In winter almost one-third of the northern Caspian freezes, and in summer the Iranian sector sees water surface temperatures of about 30 C (86 F). The Caspian Sea is used for oil and gas extraction, tourism, and fishing, although strict environmental regulations have been implemented to protect locals who depend on its resources and native species, such as sturgeon, for their livelihoods. Hence, all oil and gas activities must adhere to delivering zero discharge during drilling and production operations.