Page 36: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jul/Aug 2014)

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Drilling

Drilling optimization offshore Sarawak n 2012, Shell Malaysia E&P signed Shell started exploring in the region

Shell reduced its a new production sharing contract in the 1960s, building infrastructure

Malaysian exploration

I (PSC) with PETRONAS to explore for and hubs, into which new smaller fnds oil and gas off Sarawak, Borneo Island, in could be tied. But to successfully fnd well costs by 50% the South China Sea. the smaller deposits, Shell decided to to make smaller and

The SK319 PSC was the trigger for an use statistics-based drilling, as employed initial three-year exploration program to in land drilling, which meant reduc- more distributed explore 2727sq km within block SK319, ing well costs. The frm also used new deposits of oil and in Central Luconia, offshore Sarawak. technologies, including pressurized mud

The challenge in the area was to cap drilling, developed for carbonates gas more economic. exploit smaller and more distributed in Malaysia, and casing while drilling

Elaine Maslin found volumes of oil and gas, mostly stored in technology. Additionally, it found better carbonate pinnacles in Central Luconia, ways to collaborate internally and with out more.

in the Sarawak basin, affordably and fast, contractors under a campaign approach.

The company is now about halfway says operator, Shell, via its subsidiary through the campaign, which will be

Sarawak Shell Berhad (with 50% stake comprised of, in total, about 15 wells. in SK319, alongside PETRONAS Carigali

The frst fve wells were drilled over and SapuraKencana, each with 25% fve months, starting December 2012, interest).

July 2014 | OE oedigital.com 38 038_OE0714_Drilling_elaine.indd 38 6/20/14 2:58 PM