Courtesy of prospectoroffshoredrilling.com

The world’s newest jack-up drilling rig, PROSPECTOR 1, has arrived in the Cromarty Firth after a two-month journey from its construction shipyard in Dalian, China. Owned by Prospector Offshore Drilling, the jack-up rig features one of the most advanced, fully-automated drilling systems in the world and represents an investment of over US$200 million.

At 231 feet by 250 feet the rig’s platform is the size of four Olympic swimming pools. Fully jacked-up its height is almost 775 feet.

It is the first of six rigs Prospector Offshore Drilling has ordered, with an estimated total project cost of approximately £750 million.

PROSPECTOR 1 and PROSPECTOR 5, which is due to arrive in the North Sea next summer, have both been built in China. PROSPECTOR 1 was built by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Offshore Co., while PROSPECTOR 5 is being built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

PROSPECTOR 1 has been transported on Dockwise’s heavy lift vessel, the Talisman. It will be floated off the vessel over the next two to three days before being jacked-up in the Cromarty Firth. It will spend the next four weeks in the deepwater port while its 140-strong crew continues an intensive training program. It will then travel to the Central North Sea to commence operations for Total E&P UK Ltd.

The rig is capable of operating in nominal water depths of up to 400 feet and is equipped to drill wells to a depth of 35,000 feet in high pressure and high temperature environments.

Darren Sutherland, director of European Operations at Prospector Offshore Drilling, said: “After several years of preparation we’re delighted to welcome PROSPECTOR 1 to the U.K. Prospector Offshore Drilling was established two years ago with the mission to deliver safe, modern, efficient drilling capacity to the upstream E&P industry around the world.”

“The rig represents the next generation of technology for the oil industry. The cyber drilling technology creates significant efficiency and safety benefits for operators. The rig also offers greatly improved safety, working conditions and accommodation for offshore crews.”

Bob Buskie, chief executive of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, welcomed the rig: “It is thanks to our deep sheltered water and strategic proximity to the North Sea that we are able to attract drilling companies like Prospector Offshore Drilling.

“The port’s marine expertise and heavy lift experience is an attraction for drilling organizations. In 2007 the Blue Marlin Dockwise heavy lift vessel delivered the brand new Rowan Gorilla VI into the port and in 2008 we took delivery of the Safe Bristolia.”

Source: newtechmagazine.com