By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, Nov. 22 -- Statoil AsA's Byford Dolphin drilling rig has been adrift in the Halten Bank area of the Norwegian Sea since it escaped from a tow early today, 150 km off the northern Norwegian coast. All 71 crew on board are in good condition, and the position is not considered critical.
The unit was on its way to plug a well on Statoil's Mikkel field. Weather in the area is reportedly poor, with snow flurries and high seas. Waves have a significant height of 7.7 meters.
The rig has its own propulsion machinery, and is moving under control at a speed of 1.3 knots between the Draugen and Njord platforms. The Norwegian coastguard service is monitoring the situation and at present reports its course does not present any risk of collision with nearby installations.
The first priority is to get new towlines on board the rig and the anchor handlers Northern Chaser and Pacific Banner are shadowing it. In addition, the anchor handler Northern Crusader is on its way from Kristiansund in mid-Norway. Several other vessels and helicopters are also standing by.
A search and rescue (SAR) helicopter normally stationed on Statoil's Heidrun platform is ready to take off at short notice from the �land airfield and the joint rescue coordination center for southern Norway has mobilized a Sea King helicopter from �land to Shell's Draugen platform.
Standby ships are also available in the area, with Strihauk near Byford Dolphin and Ocean Sky between Draugen and Njord. Skandi Stord is between Heidrun and �gard.
Three years ago the Byford Dolphin was listed by Statoil as one of its rigs that it considered as ready for replacement. In 1998 the company announced that its was reviewing its portfolio of rigs under charter with a view to acquiring "a safer and more efficient rig fleet."
The existing fleet of mobile rigs chartered by the group will have an average age of 22 years in 2005, when most of the present contracts with options are due to have expired.
Of the 16 rigs available to it, Statoil regards Transocean Wildcat, Byford Dolphin and Deepsea Trym, all built in the 1970s, as ready for replacement.
A company statement said that Statoil wanted a more modern fleet for safety, working environment and operative reasons.
It said, "Our goal of a more modern fleet could mean that we and our license partners must accept paying more to secure the improved safety and a better working environment offered by newbuildings."
Mikkel is in blocks 6407/5 and 6 and Statoil is currently carrying out a program.of development drilling. The field has estimated recoverable reserves of 138 Mmboe and 20.4 billion cu m of gas. Statoil is operator with 50 % of the field. The other partners are ExonMobil Norway AsA. with 40 %, and Norsk Hydro AsA with 10 %.
Detailed plans for the development of the field have recently been submitted to the Norwegian Government and it is planned to begin gas deliveries in 2003.