Semi-submersible drilling rig “Polyarnaya Zvezda" (Polar Star) began to perform work on the Kirinsky gas condensate field, which is a part of prospective oil and gas project "Sakhalin-3" in the Sea of Okhotsk, the Gazflot press release said.
The semi-sub was delivered to the site from the port of Kholmsk escorted by two tugboats of LLC Gazflot - "Saturn" and "Neptune". As of now, ballasting and positioning of the semi-sub have been completed, preparatory works for the installation of subsea production tree are underway.
problem "Polar Star" in the project - to drill and equip development wells. The plant was built specially for LLC "Gazflot" for drilling exploration and production wells offshore.
Polar Star is a semi-submersible drilling rig of the sixth generation, with modern equipment from leading manufacturers. The deck length of the upper structure - 85 m, width - 73 m, height to the top of the semi - 128 m. Draft molded - 23.5 m, length of the pontoon - 119 m, width - 17 m, height - 10 m, displacement - more than 56,000 tons. The facility is capable of conducting exploratory and development drilling of oil and gas wells to 7,500 meters at depths ranging from 70 to 500 meters, with atmospheric temperature ranges - 30ºC, +45ºC.
Kirinsky gas and condensate field is being developed by Gazprom Dobycha Shelf, a subsidiary of Gazprom. Kirinsky field is located 28 km (17 mi) offshore Sakhalin Island in the Sea of Okhotsk in water depths of approximately 90 metres (300 ft). It has gas reserves about 3.6 trillion cubic feet (100×109 m3). The field is expected to be commissioned in 2014. In addition, Gazprom owns the East-Odoptu and Ayashsky licences.