The Soviet Union's Caspian Sea drilling in first quarter 1990 fell to its lowest point since the 1950s, and this year's footage most likely will be far short of target.
Renewed ethnic unrest in Azerbaijan caused much of the sharp drop in Caspian drilling early this year. Problems were compounded by failure of the big fabricating yard near Baku to provide jackets for platforms as scheduled.
The Soviets had hoped to increase Caspian Sea drilling by 40% in 1986-90 compared with 1981-85, the previous 5 year plan. That goal apparently will not be achieved.
CASPIAN SLOWDOWN
Official figures show that the U.S.S.R.'s Caspian Sea drilling, which during recent years accounted for more than 90% of total Soviet offshore footage, was only 46.8% of plan in January. Only two wells were completed that month vs. the scheduled four in 28th of April field, by far the most productive in the Caspian.
During 1989, the U.S.S.R. completed 95 Caspian Sea wells instead of the planned 86. Fourteen of those were exploratory holes.
Even drilling in the far southern Caspian was seriously affected by the turmoil in Azerbaijan that exploded in late January. The Soviet jack up Kaspii-2, which is drilling the first well on Iran's coastal shelf, was unable to operate normally following the Azerbaijan riots, the Baku newspaper Vyshka reported.
In late December, the hole off Iran reached 2,500 m (8,202 ft).
Especially poor performance was reported this year for the Caspian's fleet of about 12 mobile rigs-four semisubmersibles and eight jack ups. They drilled only 37% of scheduled footage during January.
Vyshka explained that 48% of the "specialists" working on Caspian mobile rigs were Russian. As Azerbaijan's violence against "foreigners" especially Russians and Armenians-grew, Russian personnel aboard mobile rigs quit work and returned to Baku, fearing for the safety of their families.
Caspian mobile rig workers remained at their jobs during last year's periods of Azerbaijan unrest.
Vyshka reported that inexperienced replacement crews on supply vessels that normally deliver pipe, materials, and equipment to platforms in Caspian Sea fields refused to leave port during bad weather last winter. As a result, even drinking water on the platforms had to be rationed. Morale of drilling personnel, already sagging because of onshore unrest, fell further.
PLATFORM INSTALLATION
Besides platforms built alongside the Caspian's 250 miles of shallow water trestles, there are about 30 free standing platforms. Most of them are in water less than 150 ft deep.
The Soviets planned to install about 40 platforms in greater water depths-as much as 800 ft-in 1989-2005. This program is off to a poor start.
Close to 1,000 wells were slated to be drilled from these platforms. Most of the structures were planned for installation in deepwater sectors of 28th of April field and other promising, undeveloped fields farther east along the Apsheron Sill.
Because of failure to build the expected platforms in 28th of April field, only seven of the nine available drilling crews were working early this year. In February, the number of active crews in 28th of April slumped to five, and footage fell correspondingly.
SUCCESS OFF TURKMENIA
Meanwhile, the Soviets report some success in Caspian drilling off Turkmenia near the eastern end of the Apsheron Sill. In January, the 28th of April jack up made a significant strike at Gubkin Bank off Turkmenia's Cheleken Peninsula.
Each of the four zones tested flowed 1,825 b/d of "oil" (possibly condensate) and 11.65 MMcfd of gas. There are nine potential pay zones. Several appraisal wells are planned at Gubkin Bank.
Oil and gas have been found in at least six offshore Turkmenian sites since the late 1960s. Total crude and condensate production from the Caspian's Turkmenian shelf remains small-apparently less than 10,000 b/d.
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