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    A story behind every picture

    Sept. 20, 1999
    As oil and gas prices rebound and deep offshore reservoirs beckon operators, timing could not be better for new additions to the deepwater rig fleet. Several successful- and some not so successful-stories played themselves out over the past year, including the implementation of next-generation technologies, disrupted long-term contracts, and on-time building schedules:
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    As oil and gas prices rebound and deep offshore reservoirs beckon operators, timing could not be better for new additions to the deepwater rig fleet. Several successful- and some not so successful-stories played themselves out over the past year, including the implementation of next-generation technologies, disrupted long-term contracts, and on-time building schedules:

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    Construction of the Pride Africa, pictured right, involved a multinational effort among companies from Angola, South Korea, France, and the U.S. Pride International mitigated risk through a joint venture with Sonangol, Angola's state oil company.
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    Rowan's Gorilla V (right), a harsh-environment jack up with 573 ft of leg (OGJ, Oct. 12, 1998), could broaden the area of bottom-supported drilling activities in the North Sea-if given the chance. Unfortunately, Amoco UK Exploration Co. (BP Amoco plc) terminated a long-term contract before delivery, alleging a breach in equipment performance. Rowan disagrees and is pursuing a legal course of action.
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    Diamond Offshore's upgraded Ocean Clipper (right), which also lost its first contract because of a critical system failure, went on to drill a world record turnkey well in 7,208 ft of water for Marathon Oil last August.
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    R&B Falcon's Millennium (right), built 2 months ahead of schedule and below budget, is en route to its first well in the Gulf of Mexico for Statoil. The drillship features advanced pipe-handling equipment and onboard oil storage capability of 97,400 bbl for extended well test operations.
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    Santa Fe International's Galaxy II (right), equipped to drill high-pressure, high-temperature wells for the Sable Offshore Energy Project, has already drilled 21/2 wells since delivery late last year.
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    Transocean's Discoverer Enterprise (right), which contains two independent drilling systems under the same derrick, promises to cut cycle time by performing simultaneous drilling and completion activities. At press time, the drillship was undergoing sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico.
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  • Finally, Ocean Rig's Bingo 1 (right), on location in the Pascagoula-based facility Friede Goldman shipyard, is perhaps the largest semisubmersible in the world. Built on speculation during a period of falling commodity prices, this rig does not yet hold a contract.

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