Types of offshore drilling platforms

Abstract

The Russian Energy Strategy for the period up to 2035 estimates the development of the hydrocarbon resource potential of the continental shelf of the Arctic seas as the most important geopolitical and technical challenge for the Russian oil and gas sector. An adequate response to it means sufficient production of hydrocarbons in the country beyond the time horizon of 2035. Russia’s continental shelf includes the following oil and gas bearing provinces: West Barents, East Barents, Timan-Pechora, West Siberian, Khatango-Vilyui, Laptev, East Arctic, Novosibirsk-Chukotka, Okhotsk, Baltic and Caspian regions. The first eight provinces are located in the Arctic shelf zone, which is a strategic region in the context of resource potential and opportunities for the development of available mineral resources. The estimate for the initial recoverable hydrocarbon resources is 100 billion tons of standard fuel. The methods and equipment used for drilling offshore wells (offshore drilling) are very similar to those used for onshore drilling. In contrast to onshore drilling, the functional scheme for offshore drilling is complicated by the presence of a water column between the wellhead and the drilling rig. This paper gives an overview of existing offshore drilling rigs: fixed, semi-fixed and mobile platforms. It also includes description of pros and cons of such offshore platforms.