‘Neptune’ Jack-Up Rig Christened in Astrakhan (Russia)

July 8, 2013

On 3 July 2013 a christening ceremony for the jack-up drilling rig Neptune took place at the Astrakhan Shipbuilding Production Association yard (enters Caspian Energy Group).

The installation of the jack-up drilling rig Neptune was made at the Astrakhan Shipbuilding Production Association yard, and Caspian Energy Projects LLC effected the project management together with Lamprell Energy LTD.

The jack-up drilling rig Neptune of Le Tourneau 116E Class Platform was fabricated by the Lamprell Energy LTD yard in 2011 in Sharjah (UAE) for Eurasia Shelf drilling company. The construction was separated into 8 modules for their transportation by the Black Sea and channels system to Astrakhan where the final assembly of the rig took place. The operation of the rig Neptune will be done in the Caspian Sea at the water depth of 4.8 up to 105 meters. The living quarter of the platform will be equipped by the air-conditioning system and provide the accommodation for the crew of 105 people.

Under the drilling rig construction project a unique engineering operation was made – skidding a cantilever (of the drilling facilities) on the platform. For the first time at the Astrakhan yards the drilling facilities complex of 1300 tons weight was transported by means of hydraulics.

A solemn christening ceremony for the jack-up drilling rig Neptune was attended by the Governor of the Astrakhan region Aleksandr Zhilkin, President of LUKOIL oil company Vagit Alekperov, Executive director of Eurasia Shelf drilling company Aleksandr Dzhaparidze and many other representatives of the Russian and foreign shipbuilding and oil and gas production companies. Tamara Sinyavskaya, a people’s artist of the USSR, a distinguished artist of RF became a “godmother” of the platform that is a traditional symbol at the commissioning of such facilities.

Press Release, July 8,2013