Half of a new deepwater semi-submersible drilling platform in the Norwegian North Sea comes from China

2014-05-28 09:00

The harsh North Sea conditions off the coast of Norway demand high performance and stringent standards for offshore platforms. Gaining access to the Norwegian North Sea has become synonymous with entering the high-end market for offshore platforms. Of the 221 semi-submersible drilling rigs currently in operation globally, only 29 have received the Acknowledgement of Compliance (AoC) certification from the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA). Four of these were built by Chinese offshore engineering companies; three by CIMC Raffles and one by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. In the past five years, China has captured 50% of the global market share for deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs delivered for operation in the Norwegian North Sea.
　　The build quality and operational performance of deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs delivered by Chinese offshore engineering companies have earned high praise from major clients in the Norwegian North Sea. In May 2014, the second deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig, COSL Innovator, delivered by CIMC Raffles to CDE (中海油服欧洲钻井公司), ranked first in overall performance among Statoil's 22 offshore platforms operating in the North Sea, earning the title of "Rig of the Month." Previously, the COSL Pioneer, another deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig delivered by CIMC Raffles, had also been named "Rig of the Month" in May 2012 and February 2013. This achievement by a Chinese-built deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig in the North Sea has transformed the market position of Chinese deepwater platforms.
　　On the morning of June 18, 2014, CIMC Raffles commenced construction of the Beacon Atlantic, a North Sea deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig for Beacon Company of Norway, in Yantai. This is the sixth deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig that CIMC Raffles has built for the Norwegian North Sea and is scheduled for delivery in 2016.
　　The Beacon Atlantic, a North Sea deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig, measures 106.75 meters in length, 73.7 meters in width, and 42 meters in depth. It has a maximum operating water depth of 500 meters and a maximum drilling depth of 8000 meters. Employing a GM4-D design, it represents an upgrade and optimization by CIMC Raffles in collaboration with the European design firm Global Maritime, building upon the experience gained from the construction of the previous five North Sea deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs in this series. CIMC Raffles holds 80% of the intellectual property rights for the GM4-D design. This platform is specifically designed for the Norwegian continental shelf and the North Sea, capable of operating in all Norwegian waters, including the Barents Sea within the Arctic Circle. Equipped with a NOV-designed derrick system and a DP3 dynamic positioning system, it meets the stringent requirements of the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA), the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD), and the Norwegian offshore industry standard (NORSOK), and is classed by DNV GL.
　　Ms. Heidi Baugsto, Chairperson of North Sea Rigs, stated at the commencement ceremony that building the Beacon Atlantic here was the right choice.

COSCO's $170 million bulk purchase of ships

CNOOC and BP sign a large order for 30 million tons; profitability of imported LNG remains uncertain

COOKIES

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize the advertising shown to you and to help you get the best experience on our website. For more information, see our Privacy & Cookie Policy

COOKIES

required

These cookies are necessary for basic functions such as payment. Standard cookies cannot be turned off and do not store any of your information.

analyze

These cookies collect information, such as how many people are using our site or which pages are popular, to help us improve the customer experience. Turning these cookies off will mean we can't collect information to improve your experience.

Feature

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

advertise

These cookies help us understand what you are interested in so that we can show you relevant advertising on other websites. Turning these cookies off will mean we are unable to show you any personalized advertising.

WeChat Official Account

Video account

Douyin account

Business License