Acteon picked for HPHT drilling

Venture Production has picked the Acteon companies, Claxton Engineering, 2H Offshore (2H) and Subsea Riser Products (SRP) to provide an ultra-high-pressure riser for a North Sea drilling campaign. The riser will be used during a high-pressure, high-temperature (HP/HT) drilling campaign planned by Venture for the fourth quarter of 2009. Acteon said the riser will allow Venture to drill and complete HP/HT subsea wells from a jackup drilling rig employing a surface blowout preventer (BOP), “which will provide significant cost benefits and operational efficiencies.” Venture has already contracted the Noble Scott Marks, which is currently under construction in China, for the HP/HT campaign. Alistair Montgomery, senior drilling engineer, Venture Production, said: “With HP/HT drilling on the increase across the industry, and given the tight rig market, a solution that allows us to use a jackup rig and have the full-bore access necessary to carry out subsea completions is highly significant. “The contract award is the result of months of collaboration with the three Acteon companies, as well as tree supplier FMC and drilling contractor Noble Drilling. During this process safety, operational efficiency and ensuring effective systems interfaces were among our top concerns.”