Second DeepSTIM Deepwater Stimulation Vessel launched
The new-generation DeepSTIM design integrates Schlumberger expertise in marine, mechanical, electronic, and chemical engineering, and DeepSTIM II incorporates design improvements made after the first vessel was launched in 1999. Measuring 270 ft by 56 ft, the vessel's large capacity provides reliability in severe weather and allows the vessel to remain at sea for long periods. The fully enclosed North Sea-style deck encompasses all pumping, mixing, and blending equipment, eliminating exposure of equipment and personnel to weather. Equipped with the latest in antiroll systems, environmental waste containment, data acquisition and transmission, and fluid engineering, DeepSTIM II represents the latest stimulation and deepwater service technology.
The dynamic positioning system keeps the vessel in place using computer-aided thrusters built into the hull. Both satellite global positioning and a sonar system help assure operations continue in adverse weather to avoid costly downtime.
Doug Pferdehirt, Schlumberger GeoMarket manager, US Gulf Coast, says the new vessels are making deepwater stimulation safer, for both personnel and the environment, as well as more efficient. According to Pferdehirt, "The vessel's size and capacity were not our only considerations. We considered safety, ergonomics, and environmental protection as principal drivers in the overall design. The DeepSTIM II has exceptionally large capacities for storage of proppant and fluids, and these capacities and its hydraulic horsepower (hhp) are unmatched by any other stimulation vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. DeepSTIM II capabilities virtually eliminate stimulation design constraints based on vessel limitations."
The vessel delivers 21,400 hhp at rates as high as 50 bbl/minute. A process-controlled continuous-mix fluid system mixes acid and fracturing fluids "on the fly" using fresh water or seawater, greatly minimizing fluid waste and reducing material costs. The DeepSTIM II high-speed satellite communications package allows real-time transmission of critical wellsite data to multiple client locations.
DeepSTIM II joins the DeepSTIM in the Gulf of Mexico, where the first in this new line of stimulation vessels has been working for various operators since its launch a year ago.
Edited by Dev George
Managing Editor, Oil and Gas Online