Jack Gerard
Jane Van Ryan
Yesterday, Chevron U.S.A. Inc. announced that the Discoverer Clear Leader--an ultra-deepwater drillship newly built to Chevron's specifications--has begun work in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, allowing Chevron to expand its search for new domestic sources of energy.
The state-of-the-art vessel is capable of drilling wells in 12,000 feet (3,650 meters) of water to a total depth of 40,000 feet (12,200 meters), surpassing the limits of previous technology. Chevron is one of the top lease holders and producers in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The company holds the current world water-depth drilling record of 10,011 feet (3,051 meters) of water in the Gulf.
Watch the ultra-deepwater drilling animation, and station-keeping animation showing how satellite signals and acoustic beacons on the sea floor help keep the drillship on location.
Dear Jane, I need more info. Where was the Discoverer drillship made? How much did it cost to make? How many do we have in operation in the OCS? Thank you.
Joe Vecchio
1850 East Lake Rd Skaneateles, NY
1-315-673-9565
Dear Jane, I need more info. Where was the Discoverer drillship made? How much did it cost to make? How many do we have in operation in the OCS? Thank you.
Joe Vecchio
1850 East Lake Rd Skaneateles, NY
1-315-673-9565
Hi, Joe. Thanks for your questions. According to an article about the Discoverer Clear Leader, the ship was built in South Korea and was expected to cost about $650 million. It’s hard to say how many drillships are operating in U.S. waters on any given day, but the number is likely to be quite low—maybe only one or two—and they would be operating in the western Gulf of Mexico. That’s about the only area where U.S. offshore drilling is allowed now.
Jane,
That would be Central Gulf of Mexico, which is where the ultra-deepwater drilling is.