Current situation and development trend of arctic drilling equipment

With conventional onshore and offshore oil production no longer able to meet growing global energy demand, the emphasis of hydrocarbon exploration and development has shifted to the remote and cold Arctic. In order to overcome the many challenges posed by the rugged environment in the Arctic, global R&D investment for Arctic drilling technology continues to grow and Arctic drilling equipment continues to improve. Based on investigations of Arctic oil and gas drilling equipment, the challenges faced in Arctic drilling and the status of Arctic drilling equipment are discussed in this article. Some exploratory viewpoints and recommendations for Arctic oil and gas exploration and development are also proposed. Copyright © 2013 by the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE).