offshore to onshore

From the moment an area of seabed is released by the government for oil exploration, it normally takes more than 10 years to get oil ashore. This depends on many factors including distance from shore to site, depth of water, weather conditions and ease of drilling.

Time Line:

• First year:
  • Surveying of entire area seabed.
  • From survey results, oil companies bid on area segments.
• Next two years:
  • Seismic survey of sub seabed rock. Carried out from survey ships.
  • Analyzing of all data to determine best places to do exploratory test drill holes.
• Years four to five :
  • Exploration drilling involving test holes and analyzing what if anything is found. Many of these holes will be sealed with cement and never used. Work carried out by mobile drilling rigs such as Semi-submersibles, drill ships and jack-ups.
• Year six:
  • Platform and pipeline (if required) planning applications are submitted to government. Obviously, if no oil is discovered in large enough quantities then this stage will not happen.
• Year seven:
  • Government review planning applications.
• Years seven to ten:
  • Building platforms and pipelines according to planning permissions.
• Year eleven:
  • Drilling well holes from the platform.
• Year twelve:
  • Oil is pumped ashore via pipelines or onto ships.

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