Faroe Petroleum has taken a significant step forward in oil spill contingency planning on the recently drilled Clapton exploration well. An ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) was deployed from the Maersk Guardian throughout the operation. While deployed, the system was sending live current velocity and direction data from every 2 m depth interval below sea level.
                                               
The live current data is transferred to a model for regional model enhancement and is also available on the StormGeo portal in combination with advanced weather information and forecasting.

In addition, 5 GPS “drifters” were available which were to be thrown overboard at fixed intervals in the event of a significant hydrocarbon spill. They are designed to follow surface currents and communicate back direction and extent of the spill. The GPS drifters are tagged and can be mapped in the StormGeo portal. Mapping location and velocity of the spill is a powerful tool for allowing recovery operations the best chance of success in both day and night operations.

The system was reviewed as part of an audit of Faroe Petroleum and the exploration activity on Clapton onboard the Maersk Guardian by KLIF (Klima og Forurensingdirektoratet) conducted in June with favorable feedback on the enhancement to oil spill contingency planning.

Faroe Petroleum will review the results from this system post well operations for future operational enhancements related to optimal placement of supply boats for loading/unloading and using the current direction to understand cuttings dispersion direction for environmentally sensitive areas.

Current Expertise wish to thank Faroe Petroleum, StormGeo and Maersk Drilling for a successful planning, deployment and operation of this equipment during this exploration campaign.