Deep Water Ocean Current Measurements at (confidential) locations offshore of Sulewesi, Borneo, and the Philippines
April 2000 to June 2000
Deep Water Ocean Current Measurements at (confidential) locations offshore of Sulewesi, Borneo, and the Philippines April 2000 to June 2000
Ocean Data personnel were requested to design and install a mooring system to quantifying ocean current variability at selected drilling locations prior to anchoring the drilling platform. Of particular interest to drilling engineers was the possibility of high-speed currents due to internal waves, or solitons, and the adverse affect these currents may have on drilling operations in deep water.
Ocean Data was requested to provide a current meter system that could be deployed for short durations, and recovered just prior to setting the drill rig anchor systems. Current variability, and the impact of solitons, would be reported immediately to assist with the anchor design. All instruments returned 100% data at each location. Measurements of internal wave phenomena, especially in the Sulu Sea, provided valuable information to drilling operations. Based on the rapid drilling schedule, the mooring was deployed initially for 22 days in water depths of 1215 meters offshore of Sulawesi; the mooring was moved to the second location (offshore northern Borneo, water depths 1920 meters) for 27 days, and finally to the Sulu Sea (water depths 1105 meters). In all cases, current speeds and variability time scales were reported to the drilling engineers within 24 hours after recovery. Final reports were delivered within 60 days of recovery.
Ocean Data Technologies, Inc.