Giant approaches Kazakhstan's black gold

International oil companies are working together to explore for oil in the Caspian Sea. The sea is only about six meters deep in places and a special drilling barge has had to be developed to cope with pack ice in winter. A normal barge would be crushed. Flat bottomed ice breakers will be needed to reach the platform. Water and drilling muds produced from drilling will have to be disposed of carefully so the caviar industry in the area is not adversely affected. The project is behind schedule and it is unlikely to be ready by Oct as planned.