West Navion/ Drilling
Smedvig
Approximately 200 kilometres south of Torshavn, on the Svinøy prospect, West Navion, completed the second exploration well at the Faroes earlier this fall. The oil company BP?s choice of drilling unit for this area was well selected. West Navion is one of the newest and most advanced drilling unit of its kind. The drilship complies with the strictest regulations concerning the natural environment and extensive emphasis has been made on reducing discharge of materials into the environment.
West Navion belongs to the new generation of drilling units developed in 1996/97 with focus on a broader range of use, increased independence of frequent supply services, higher capacity and efficiency, improved safety and working environment.
West Navion is equipped with dual drilling derrick which enables drilling and completion operations to be performed simultaneously. As an example, while the main derrick is drilling, the auxiliary derrick can prepare for the next drilling operation. This reduces the halts in the drilling operations and is expected to increase the drilling efficiency compared to conventional drilling rigs. West Navion has a hydraulicly driven drilling equipment and employs sophisticated computer operated control technology, which implies that all operations on the drill floor are fully automated.
The drillship has a high deck load capacity and can store up to 2,500 meters of riser and 10,000 meters of drillpipe. This capacity enables the unit to operate in remote areas offshore without frequent calls from supply vessels. The drillship has an average transfer speed of 13 knots, which is approximately twice the speed of conventional drilling rigs.
The drillship is equipped with satellite controlled dynamic positioning system (DP). Signals from satellites, gauges on the seabed and riser enable the drillship to maintain the same position during drilling operations without the use of anchors. Dynamic positioning is especially favourable on fields with an extensive pipeline system on the seabed.
In addition, West Navion is fully equipped to perform subsea field explorations as well as test production. The vessel has a storage capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil.
West Navion is built according to new rules and regulations and complies with the new regulations concerning working and natural environment set forth by the Norwegian Petroleum Authorities. The drillship is built with double bottom and hull.
West Navion is less dependent on weather conditions, able to operate in all waters, arctic and tropical, and can operate in any water depth where oil and gas are produced.
West Navion is operated by the Norwegian drilling contractor Smedvig. Smedvig has approximately 30 years of experience from drilling operations in the Noth Sea and surrounding harsh environment areas in the north. The company includes approximately 3000 highly skilled and experienced employees.
West Navion has been employed by several oil companies since delivery in Feburary 2000 and has experience from some of the most sensitive and harsh environment areas in the world. The vessel has worked in a range of water depths from approximately 300 to 1900 meters, including offshore Greenland, Norway, Irland, and West of Shetland and now the Faroe Islands.
