Five wells needed to supply the Corrib gas terminal at Bellanaboy have been completed and made ready for production. Completion work on the wells was finalised on December 10 by the Sedco 711 drilling rig which has been operating at the Corrib field since early May.
Although the work was completed more than two weeks ago, the rig had been waiting for suitable weather to haul its anchors and head back to the relatively calm waters of the North Sea.
Completing the Corrib wells has been a major technical achievement for the Corrib gas partners, which contracted the Sedco 711, owned by Transocean, for the work. Operating in water depths of 350 metres, the Corrib gas reservoir is a further three kilometres below the seabed. Working 80 kilometres off the coast of Mayo, in harsh weather and sea conditions, has been challenging for the 100-crew members of the Sedco 711.
Further work on the installation of the subsea infrastructure and offshore pipeline — which will regulate and transport the gas from the reservoir to the onshore terminal — will be carried out in 2009 after which Corrib gas can come ashore.
The Sedco 711 is a semi-submersible drilling unit capable of operating in harsh environments and water depths up to 1,800 feet. The rig was serviced from Killybegs port and Carrickfinn Airport in Co Donegal.
The Corrib gas project is currently the largest construction project in Ireland employing more than 900 people — half of whom come from Mayo — building the Bellanaboy gas terminal. Corrib gas will create approximately 130 full time jobs in the Erris region when it comes into operation.
