Wagenborg Kazakhstan

In 1997, a consortium of seven oil companies (AgipKCO) decided to explore the feasibility of oil production in the northern part of the Caspian Sea. In the area that was to be drilled first, the water has an average depth of 3.5 metres and the dimensions of the area to be explored is approximately 300 x 300 km,. During the harsh Kazakh winters the thickness of the ice runs up to 80 cm and ridges of drifting ice are a normal phenomenon.

An ice-strengthened pontoon with a draft of 1.80 mtrs. was used as the drilling site. The pontoon was moored to a specially designed plateau of sand and stone under the water.

Wagenborg Offshore was asked to advise during the construction of the work island, and to supply two Ice Breaking Supply Vessels.

Ice Breaking Supply Vessels (IBSV)

The ships are specially designed for the conditions in the north of the Caspian Sea and are in operation in this area since October 1998. With their limited draft and engine capacity of 2 x 2652 hp (1950 kW) they can access the drilling sites of the Kazakh field, even during extreme winter conditions.

Shallow Draft Tug (SDT)

The Shallow Draft Tugs, with a draft of 1.65 mtrs and an engine capacity of 2 x 675 hp, were specially developed for tug work in shallow water. The SDTs are used to tug cargo pontoons between the drilling sites and the provisioning base.

Ice-classed Barges (ICB)

The Ice-classed Barges are cargo pontoons with a similar ice-strengthening as the IBSVs. They are designed to transport a range of cargo.

As of 2007 Wagenborg Kazakhstan operates in the Caspian Sea with a fleet of two icebreakers, four tugs, six flattop barges, three ice-classed barges, one multicat, one stan tug and it carries out the operational management of two accommodation units.