Friday, July 10, 2009
World's first circular drilling rig debuts at Cosco Shipyard
Shanghai: COSCO Shipyard Group's Qidong Shipyard recently hosted a naming ceremony for Sevan Driller, the first circular drilling rig prepared for drilling at a water depth of almost 4,200 metres.
“The successful construction of the Sevan Driller is a milestone for the COSCO Shipyard Group. It is also a milestone for China in the offshore industry. Offshore newbuilding has been clearly recognized as one of the focus areas for the Chinese shipbuilding industry to develop in the years to come. By this naming ceremony, China has demonstrated its capability and expertise,” says Jörg Beiler, the vice president and regional manager of DNV China, which classed the rig.
The Sevan Driller is the world’s first of its kind, with the most advanced deep-water drilling capabilities that allow it to drill wells of up to almost 13,500 metres (40,000 feet) in water depths of up to nearly 4,200 metres (12,500 feet) and an internal storage capacity of up to 150,000 barrels of oil.
The owner is Sevan Marine. The construction of this rig started at COSCO Nantong Shipyard in May 2007 and was relocated to COSCO’s Qidong Shipyard in April for derrick erection and final commissioning activities. The rig is due for delivery in the third quarter of this year and will be deployed by Petrobras in the Santos Basin, off the Brazilian coastline. [09/07/09]
