World-class rig ‘Krechet’ spudded its first well in Odoptu field in Sakhalin 1 Project recently. Mr. P K Rao, Director (Operations), ONGC Videsh congratulated the team for successful commissioning of yet another world class rig in the project, which is capable of drilling world record ERD wells. He acknowledged that the dedicated rig for the field will not only improve the management of the reserves from an operational perspective but also help control costs and execution strategy for future phases.
Odoptu Stage 2 is a phased expansion of the existing Sakhalin Odoptu development, in shallow reservoir zones. The new land rig was commissioned in early 2017 and christened as ‘Krechet”- meaning Gyrfalcon, the largest of the falcon species. The rig has capability to drill longer horizontal sections and has superior mobility due to smaller modules, which can be easily dismantled, transported and assembled at site. This feature is useful as the drilling in stage 2 development of Odoptu is planned from two sites (NWS & SWS) around 9 Km apart.
The drilling company, which designed and built all the 3 powerful rigs of the project (Yastreb, Orlan and Berkut), was awarded the contract for designing the rig. The rig was fabricated in the Keppel AmFEL yard Brownsville, Texas. The overall construction and final load out completed in May 2016. The modules of the rig travelled around 46,000 nautical miles on five barges and reached the temporary offloading facility, specifically built to receive the modules of stage 2 development of the field, around 13 Km from the Odoptu North site in around 3m water depth. All the modules were navigated in Piltun bay via fleet of 6 shallow draft tugs with WinFrog navigation system to make precise transits across sandbar at the mouth of Piltun bay and Piltun bay channel. The rig modules were transported to the well site assembled and commissioned in Jan 2017. The rig spud first well on 28th Feb 2017 after completing conductor driving for first 4 wells. The rig is scheduled to drill 4 development wells including 2 producers. The first oil from the stage 2 development of the field is expected in 3Q 2017 and the field is expected to reach its peak production of 65 KBOPD in 2018.
The Krechet’s key design components include a fully enclosed drilling rig, automated pipe barn, and double-wall, 2-inch insulation. The enclosed rig and pipe barn allow the rig crew to perform drilling operations in temperatures of around 21 C (70 F) year around. The rig’s top drive has load capacity of 1250 tons, 3,000-hp draw works and torque at continuous operation of 142kNMat 130 rpm. To handle the extremely long wells, the Krechet also features four 7,500-psi mud pumps, 6020 bbl liquid-mud storage capacity and six generators. The ERD wells are batch drilled for efficiency. This drilling method requires moving the rig from well to well over a 100-meter (328-foot) track without being rigged down. Consequently, the rig is designed so that the rig and support equipment and facilities, including the utility modules, mud pits and pipe barn, could be moved hydraulically from one wellhead to the next.
Odoptu Stage 2 includes drilling 32 wells at the North and South Wellsite. The North Wellsite and South Wellsite wells will be drilled using extended reach drilling technology (ERD) with measured depths of up to 13300 meters and total vertical depth (TVD) of approximately 2000 meters. All oil production well completions will be fitted with downhole side pocket mandrels complete with casing pressure operated gas lift valves. The wells to be equipped with stand-alone screens for sand control. Annular isolation for various zones will be achieved through the use of swell packers. For commingled production from zones having various permeabilities, inflow control devices (ICDs) as well as surface-controlled downhole valves will be used to ensure optimum recovery of reserves along the length of the wellbore within the field.
ONGC Videsh celebrated the National Safety Week from March 4th to 10th with great enthusiasm on the theme ‘Leadership in safety and health enhances business sustainability’ on the backdrop of getting QHSE re-certification for revised standards ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007.
On March 4th, Mr. Narendra K. Verma, MD & CEO through his message to employees asked their individual commitment to take care of their own safety, that of their colleagues, workers and contractors.
Mr. P.K Rao, Director (Operations) and Mr. Sudhir Sharma, Director (Exploration) administered the Health & Safety pledge in Hindi and English respectively to the large gathering of employees on 6th March.
ONGC Videsh employees taking the pledge
Apart from Awareness mails, safety alerts and regular competitions to arouse HSE awareness, many other activities were also taken up, which included QHSE internal audit, safety talk, safety video, talk by doctor on ‘Live well’ and presentation on contract with International SOS on Security & medical emergency at global level’.
While speaking on the occasion Mr. P.K Rao stressed on the importance of HSE in oil & gas sector in all areas. He appreciated documentation, housekeeping and time management at Russia, which needs to be emulated. He appreciated various activities taken up during National Safety Week and asked for disseminating learnings from various accidents world over. He emphasized on adopting the best practices and reducing environmental impacts, saying HSE also encompasses Security & Sustainability.
Mr. Sudhir Sharma emphasized that safety starts from home and touched upon the importance of HSE in overseas countries citing his experiences at Colombia. He asked to adopt best safety practices and to show commitment towards safety, by using safety belts while seating in the back seats of cars.
Mr. P.K. Rao, D(O) addressing the gathering GM, International SOS making presentation
ONGC Group Sustainability report for FY 2015-16 was released by Director (Operations) and Director (Exploration). They also unveiled the memorabilia, which is a first aid kit containing 21 items.
Directors releasing the Sustainability Reportand unveiling memorabilia
Employees and families of ONGC Videsh including those posted overseas participated with enthusiasm in poster, cartoon, slogan and quiz competition. On the spot quiz competition evoked great response and everyone enjoyed it. Prizes were distributed to the winners and their entries were also screened.
National Safety Week concluded with vote of thanks and with the resolve to achieve excellence in HSE.
HR, ONGC Videsh, organized a talk on 9 th Feb 2017 on ‘Intricacies of International Human Resource Management’ by Dr. Lavanya Bennuru, an HR specialist.
This talk was organized under the able guidance of GM(HR)-Head Corporate Support Services and in co-ordination with GGM(HR)-Chief RTIs. Dr Bennuru spoke about the numerous challenges faced by the corporate operating in global arena. She enlightened the house about the role of the Strategic management of Human Resource Policies and procedures which would pave the organizations towards prosperity. The success of any organization depends on the HR team, in specific the Videsh team as the HR is to deal with a lot of subtleties such as:
1. Domestic HR Vs International HR functions
2. Understanding Legal implications of the host country
3. Multiculturalism
4. Language implications and culture
5. Recruitment policies w.r.t. expatriates and in-patriates
6. Language & culture based training
7. Ethical insights and their importance
8. Compensation issues
9. Taxation issues such as double taxation
10. Interpersonal Relations
11. Ensuring security of his job and life and his comfort at the host country
12. Repatriation
Dr Bennuru stressed on the fact that the international team of HR shoulders the responsibility of their employees who vest their confidence and trust which when dealt with carefully can drive the organizations to leap forward and conquer heights of prosperity.
The talk was well attended and appreciated by HR and Regional Presidents of ONGC Videsh.