OFFSHORE DRILLING OPERATIONS IN THE GULF OF PAPUA

Abstract

Phillips Australian Oil Company, along with a group of partners, commenced drilling in the Gulf of Papua in October 1967 and drilled a total of eleven offshore wells before operations were shut down in June, 1969. All wells were drilled in Exploration Permits PNG/2P and PNC/3P, with operations being, conducted from a district office in Port Moresby. Global Marine Incorporated self-propelled drilling vessel, "Glomar Conception" was used throughout the program, this type of vessel being chosen largely because of its mobility and large storage capacity.

The majority of the drilling materials were supplied to Port Moresby from U.S.A. and Japan, and were hauled to the drilling vessel utilizing two work boats, with cement and drilling mud weight material being handled on a bulk basis. Personnel transport was by fixed wing aircraft along the coast, then by helicopter to the rig. Weather conditions were generally good, with downtime amounting to only one or two percent of the entire program.