The 948km island of Sakhalin is found in Russia’s far east, a harsh and perilous region. An island of extremes, the northern region is a swampy plain covered with deciduous taiga, whilst it’s central and southern regions (making up 2/3 of the area) are mountainous and covered with forests of Ayan spruce, fir and birch. There are two mud volcanoes, more than 60 thousand rivers and streams and the lakes number about 16,120. In the north of Sakhalin, winter lasts from October to May where the average temperatures is -24°C (although the record lowest is -54°C) and +10°C (maximum on record +38°C) in summer. 

All in all, this makes Sakhalin both an interesting and challenging place to work and MSI is proud to announce that it has commenced its 3rd consecutive year of work in Sakhalin, again working with Romona Inc for Elvary Neftegas (ENG). Elvary Neftegas is a joint venture company formed between Rosneft and BP for the Sak IV and V development. In the summers of 2004 and 2005, real-time current measurements were provided to support drilling campaigns in the north of the Island in the Kaigansky-Vasuykansky area. This is further north, further offshore (49km) and in deeper water (114m) than any previous well drilled off Sakhalin by any company.

In 2005, MSI were also contracted to deploy various current and wave moorings to measure the oceanographic conditions during the short summer period. This scope was subsequently extended and involved MSI deploying both current and ice profiling instrumentation under the ice for the duration of the winter.

In July 2006, all 4 winter moorings deployed during the (extended) winter period were recovered and a 100% data return was attained. During the same period, a real-time current profiling package, consisting of an RDI ADCP, Linkquest acoustic modems and MSI proprietary software, and a 0.9m directional Waverider were installed in the close proximity of the drilling rig "Transocean Legend" to provide real-time wave measurements and current speed and direction profile to assist the drilling operation.

Following on from the successful real-time installation and winter period recoveries, the MSI engineers, mobilised from both of the MSI South Africa and Australia offices, assisted Romona to deploy a further 3 seabed moorings, an additional 0.9m Waverider and conduct CTD profiles. This metocean program is designed to provide engineering data for the design of ENG’s offshore facilities.

The personnel from MSI have worked extensively with Romona both prior to and since MSI’s formation in 2003. Romona (www.romona.ru), with offices in Moscow and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk as well as the Middle and Far East, are a major provider of positioning and geophysical services to the oil and gas industry. The complementary services and excellent relationship between the two companies results in Romona being able to offer clients additional services to their already extensive portfolio without compromising the metocean technical ability and experience offered.