CIMC Raffles deliveres the fourth deep-water semisubmersible drilling rig in Yantai
On 19th November, COSLPROSPECTOR, the fourth deep-water semisubmersible drilling rig built by CIMC Raffles for COSL, has been delivered in Yantai, Shandong. Adopting the most advanced design concept and being satisfied with the global strictest standards, it can work in the harsh Norwegian North Sea, the company said in its press release.
The COSLPROSPECTOR is a DP3 vessel with length of 104.5 meters, width of 70.5 meters, height of 37.55 meters, and an operating depth of 1,500 meters, a drilling depth of 7,600 meters and a designed operating temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius. A maximum variable deck load of 5,000 tonnes, the multi-function platform is also able to accommodate 130 personnel. It is classed by DNV and CCS, and satisfied with the strictest standards of PSA and NORSOK. Equipped with 10,000 controllers and alerts, the remote monitoring can be achieved in this high-automatic unit.
On the base of GM-4000 series, COSLPROSPECTOR is jointly designed by AG (Agility Group), COSL and CIMC Raffles. Furthermore, CIMC Raffles is responsible for all detailed design, construction and commissioning work. It adopts the most advanced power management and environmentally-friendly design concept, and facilities with DP3 close bus-tie, variable frequency drive, escape chute system and auto ice-cleaning technology. Compared with last delivered COSL series semisubmersible drilling rigs (COSLPIONEER, COSLPROMOTER and COSLINNOVATOR), COSLPROSPECTOR adds ICE-T, CLEAN and WINTERIZATION, to satisfy ice-class, environmentally-friendly and low-temperature requirements. COSL Prospector is made up by 112 blocks, over 700 mechanical equipment, more than 800,000 meters cable and 35,000 pipes. There are 46,500 test points of MCR, which is increased by 45% compared with three semi drilling rigs of the same series delivered already. 118 significant technical improvements have been made. In addition, weight deviation between inclined test and theoretical calculation is 80 tons and the noise level is controlled less than 45 dB in the living area. The alignment tolerance of global mating of upper and lower hull is limited to within 10mm, and finally, the percent of pass of NDT is as high as 98%.
Mr. Yu Ya, the President of CIMC Raffles, said, “The construction period of COSLPROSPECTOR is the shortest one since 2009, taking only 35 months from design to delivery. Compared with similar semisubmersible drilling rig built by the Korean shipyard, it saves 10 months in construction. It is regarded as the “Quality Project”, which means ‘high position, high standard, high quality and high efficiency’, built by CIMC Raffles and COSL.”
Mr. Li Yong, the CEO of COSL, said that the delivery of COSL improves our capabilities in deep-water operating and international market competence and completes COSL deep-water drilling facility building. We are confident to manage and operate COSLPROSPECTOR efficiently.
COSLPROSPECTOR is the 7th deep-water semisubmersible drilling rig built by CIMC Raffles. CIMC Raffles has always been supporting COSL in facilities towards deep-water exploration. With four semisubmersible drilling rigs built for COSL, three of which are six-times rewarded as “Rig of the Month” by Statoil due to their outstanding performance. The successful delivery of COSLPROSPECTOR is a milestone for Chinese deep-water drilling rig going into the global mainstream market, for the new connotation of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road.
