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www.sea-technology.com July 2014 / st 29 tion. The others are: Pacifc Khamsin, Pacifc Sharav, Pacifc Meltem (under construction) and Pacifc Zonda (under con- struction). Field Testimonials Having SEA CON support coordination and integration of cable and connector logistics, ordering and sparing helped keep successful system integration and interoperability as the overarching focuses of the DGD project, eliminating the potential for numerous problems. SEA CON has received positive feedback for its DGD connector and cable assembly work in the Pacifc Santa Ana's commissioning deployment. "The three deployments of 350-plus SEA CON con- nectors without any leak whatsoever is a very strong testa- ment to both the quality of the connectors and to all of the offshore team who have delivered the installation quality needed to achieve that 100 percent performance level," said Ken Smith, project manager for the Dual Gradient Drilling Project for Chevron North America Exploration and Produc- tion Co. "SEA CON has provided us excellent service and sup- port, ensuring the success of the PBOF [pressure-balanced, oil-flled] connectors since the beginning," added Walter Cabucio, DGD consultant to the Chevron Dual Gradient Project Team. Outlook for the Future Several ultradeepwater DGD-capable drillships will be operating worldwide within less than two years. Industry estimates predict that DGD technology can save drillers $5 million or more per well drilled in deep (more than 4,000 feet) and ultradeep (more than 7,500 feet) waters. If these savings are realized, DGD technology, after nearly two decades of development and gradual industry buy-in, will have been well worth the collective effort. n The Pacifc Drilling drillship Pacifc Santa Ana, ftted with a DGD system, is working in the Gulf of Mexico under con- tract to Chevron. Michael Mulcahy, president of Michael Mulcahy & As- sociates, Inc., is a former U.S. Navy offcer and former Sea Technology magazine managing editor. He has written more than 100 ocean science and engineer- ing articles. His interests include undersea connectors and cables, marine engineering, naval architecture, commercial diving, ROV operations, and ship salvage engineering. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.