SUMMARY OF LEG 179 ENGINEERING AND DRILLING OPERATIONS
Port Call, Cape Town, South Africa
While in port, we learned that the surface freight that contained many parts of the hammer drill system shipment would not arrive before the ship got under way. A quick inventory of HDS equipment already on board was made. The following HDS items were identified as being in the delayed surface shipment:
1. Three double-pin crossover sub OG0709 (NC 70 x NC 70). One crossover sub OG0725 (NC 70 pin x 6-5/8-in full hole modified [FHM] box) was modified into one double-pin crossover sub OG0709 (NC 70 x NC 70) at a local machine shop in port.
2. Two HDS hanger bearing lower body OJ5010. There was one HDS hanger bearing lower body on board. It was not possible to fabricate replacement HDS hanger bearing lower bodies in port or on board ship.
3. Three HDS hanger bearing cap OJ5012. One HDS hanger bearing cap was fabricated at a local machine shop in port.
4. Two complete HDS reentry cone assemblies OJ5014. It was not possible to fabricate a complete HDS reentry cone assembly in port or on board ship.
5. One HDS reentry cone OJ5015. One drill-in casing reentry funnel OJ4852 was modified into one HDS reentry cone. With one HDS reentry cone body OJ5016 on board, one complete HDS reentry cone assembly OJ5014 was fabricated on board ship.
6. Two 13-3/8-in ST-L flush joint casing lift sub OH5159. Two 13-3/8-in ST-L flush joint pin connections were cut off of two damaged joints of 13-3/8-in ST-L flush joint casing and modified into two 13-3/8-in ST-L flush joint casing lift subs. Note: these are not certified lift subs and were destroyed after completion of the hammer drill testing.
7. Three 13-3/8-in buttress casing collar. The 13-3/8-in buttress casing collar is used to cross over from the HDS hanger bearing lower body to the 13-3/8-in ST-L flush joint casing string via a double-pin casing crossover sub (13-3/8-in buttress x 13-3/8-in ST-L). There were no 13-3/8-in buttress casing collars on board or available in port. The buttress pin connection was cut off the only HDS hanger bearing lower body on board. One double-pin casing crossover sub was cut in half and the 13-3/8-in ST-L pin connection welded onto the HDS hanger bearing lower body, thus eliminating the need for the 13-3/8-in buttress casing collar.
8. Four 9-1/2-in drill collar lift sub OD0208. The 9-1/2-in drill collar lift sub was replaced by one crossover sub OG0725 (NC 70 pin x 6-5/8-in FHM box) and one 8-1/4-in drill collar lift sub OD0200 which were on board. There were only Two crossover subs OG0725 on board after one was modified into a double-pin sub OG0709. So, only two 9-1/2-in drill collar lift subs were available.
9. Two 9-1/2-in drill collar bail-type lift nubbin OG0245. Fortunately the 9-1/2-in drill collars came with cast steel thread protectors of the bail type so they could be used in place of the lift nubbin. Note: the cast steel thread protectors are not certified and should not be used routinely as lift nubbins.
10. Three 13-3/8-in Holte hardened casing shoes. The 13-3/8-in hardened casing shoes could not be fabricated in port or on board ship.
11. Two 13-3/8-in HDS modified casing hangers. The 13-3/8-in HDS modified casing hangers could not be fabricated in port or on board ship. One 13-3/8-in HDS modified casing hanger was on board, allowing for one casing deployment.
12. Two HDS hanger bearing latch body OJ5009. The HDS hanger bearing latch body could not be fabricated in port or on board ship. One HDS hanger bearing latch body was on board, allowing for one casing deployment.