Bureaus Exclusive

CIMC delivered its first deepwater drilling platform

By Chen Hong (China Daily Shenzhen Bureau)
Updated: 2010-10-28 09:52

China International Marine Containers (CIMC) Group, the world's largest tank container manufacturer, delivered the country's first deepwater semi-submersible drilling platform Tuesday, breaking the market monopoly by builders in South Korea and Singapore.

CIMC's subsidiary Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Limited built the platform, called COSLPIONEER, for COSL Drilling Europe AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL) located in Norway.

The COSLPIONEER was designed and built in accordance to applicable laws, regulations and standards for operation in the North Sea, as well as other regions around the world, according to the builder.

The platform, which could accommodate 120 persons, has an overall length of 104.5 meters, a module width of 65 meters and a module depth of 36.85 meters. It was designed to reach a maximum vertical drilling depth of 7,500 meters and a maximum variable deck load of 4,000 tons.

It has adopted the latest technologies to prevent kicks, blowouts, oil spills and other accidents as the emergency pipe cutting and sealing capabilities could be activated remotely by hydraulic, sonar or robotic means.

According to the company, the platform also provides a safe and conducive environment for people working and living on board. For example, the drilling operation and elevation of drilling tools are fully automated, further enhancing safety standards.

It is also designed to comply with a zero discharge policy. Solid debris is transferred onshore for disposal, and various wastewater treatment systems ensure that sewage and industrial waste, and rain, are adequately treated before disposal at sea.

"The completion of the COSLPIONEER showcases the breakthrough in the design and rig-building capabilities of CIMC Raffles, and the successful delivery of this platform is a milestone start point as we strive towards becoming a world-class offshore builder," said Mai Boliang, president of CIMC Group.