By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 19 -- West Navigator deepwater drillship has set a new drilling time record off Mauritania while drilling the Tiof West well in Chinguetti field for Woodside Mauritania Pty. Ltd., claims the drillship's owner Smedvig Rig AS. The drillship has been drilling three wells for Woodside in the area (OGJ Online, Dec. 2, 2003).
From arrival on location until the drilling was completed at 2992 m TD, West Navigator drilled 1641 m in 5.3 days, including setting and testing the blowout preventer, in water 1351 m deep, Smedvig reported.
The dynamically positioned West Navigator is equipped with dual derricks that enable drilling and completion operations to be performed simultaneously, increasing drilling efficiency by more than 20%, Smedvig said.
