By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 17 -- ChevronTexaco Corp. and Schlumberger Oilfield Services reported Monday the setting of a new measurement-while-drilling and logging-while-drilling depth and pressure records for the Gulf of Mexico. These results were recorded while ChevronTexaco drilled its deepwater Tonga exploratory prospect on Green Canyon Block 727 in the gulf.
Tonga No. 1 well was drilled in 4,695 ft of water, 150 miles southwest of New Orleans, by Transocean's Discoverer Deep Seas drillship.
The well reached 31,824 ft TVD, which exceeded the previous record by 700 ft, ChevronTexaco said. The well's maximum downhole pressure was recorded at 26,138 psi. Schlumberger said that while drilling commenced, it was able to deliver continuous, real-time surveys, which allowed the well's trajectory to be kept on target.
