(Aramco Mobile Drilling Platform No. 2) Project Proposal BI1800 HPP1280: Dry Docking and Modifications to AMDP-2 - Copy 52

Burgundy cloth ringbinder silver-titled to front and spine with AOC monogram, with "Copy 52" sticker to spine, 28x32cm. Unnumbered sheets with approx (364)pp text + approx (104)pp drawings most of which folding, with printed card tab dividers. Binder very good with a few surface scratches. Interiors near fine with some ms annotation, some of which on paper stapled in. Section 9 of Part II has been removed and replaced with a pink card with initialled ms note stating that "Section 9 sent to B.K. Associates for tech review 12/27/78 gd"). An extremely rare internal document, its Distribution List indicates that Copy Nos 1-50 were sent to SAO, AOC, and Houston, with some set aside for Construction Bidders. This Copy 52 may thus have been retained by those that prepared it. Aramco began its offshore explorations in Gulf waters in 1949. It discovered the vast Safaniya Oil Field in 1951, and began production in 1957. It introduced its first Mobile Drilling Platform (AMDP-1) here in 1958 to overcome the limitations of its fixed platform. AMDP-1 was designed, and built in the US in 1957 by Aramco and RG Le Tourneau, assisted by the US Air Force. It was adapted to Gulf conditions, and towed to Ras Tanura in early 1958, with its triangular shape aiding mobility. It underwent improvements in the field, and had covered its costs by 1964 (Aramco World, March / April 1964: 3-7). In recognition of its benefits, Aramco bought AMDP-2 from Le Tourneau in 1966, for operations in the Northern Area out of Ras Tanura. As AMDP-2 had "been operating continuously on workovers and drilling operations since purchase date", this document justifies and details a major repair and refit during Dec 1978 to Jan 1980 at yards in and outside the Gulf "to maintain the equipment in safe and efficient operation" (Part I). CONTENTS: At the front are Minutes of the apparently key 22 Aug 1978 Meeting (6)pp, including the Approval Sheet with photocopied signatures of senior staff from Exploration and Development, Crude and Infrastructure Projects, Northern Area Drilling, Operations Engineering, Marine Department, Loss Prevention and Environmental Affairs, Technical Services, Project Planning and Budget Coordination, and Budget. It also includes a letter from GF Larsen (VP Exploration and Development) to Ben Turner (Manager, PRU Projects Dept) stating that "having the AMDP-2 out of service for twelve months is unacceptable" and proposing workarounds. The document proper begins with title and Distribution List (2)pp. Part I contains the Project Proposal (41)pp with drawings, meeting notes etc. Part II is the Scope of Work with (6)pp prelims followed by Sections 0-8 and 10-11 with Section 9 removed as noted above (unnumbered: 17, 17, 6, 3, 3, 23, 30, 9, 37, 26, 2, 12pp). This covers a general explanation, rig structure, spudlegs, jacking, derrick subbase, machinery and pipeline systems, living quarters, deck equipment, electrical installations, and steel surface. Appendices 1-4 cover General Requirements (33)pp; Owner Furnished Materials (7)pp; Test Results (8)pp; and Le Tourneau Maintenance Manual excerpts (18)pp. Appendix 5 has the Drawings with (13)pp prelims and a statement that Index K drawings have been deleted, followed by Indexes A, D, G, L, M, P, R and S as called for (folding sheets: 16, 3, 4, 26 including 1 full-page, 12 including 2 full-page, 34, 8, 1pp). Appendix 6 contains References and Bibliography (3)pp; and Aramco Materials System Spec documents (8, 6, 4, 3, 3, 1pp). Also included are Minutes for the Meetings on 4 Aug (3pp) and 15 Aug (14pp).…