VIDEO: Saipem rig passing straight and narrow under Bosphorus bridges

Italian contractor Saipem has launched a video of its semi-submersible drilling rig Scarabeo 9 crossing the Bosphorus Strait and clearing three Istanbul bridges ahead of Black Sea operations. 

For this purpose, the rig had to be disassembled in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.

The ultra deepwater drilling rig was hired for drilling operations in the Black Sea. After arriving at its location, the rig spudded the Rosneft-operated Maria-1 exploration well in the Zapadno-Chernomorskaya license area last week. Forecasted oil in place for Zapadno-Chernomorskaya licence area is estimated to exceed 570 million tons.

Drilling the first exploration well in the Zapadno-Chernomorskaya license area is part of joint activities with Rosneft’s strategic partner, Eni. Rosneft has a 66.67% in the joint venture and Eni holds the remaining 33.33% interest.

Designed well depth is 6,126 meters with the water depth at the drilling site exceeding 2,000 meters.

The rig is equipped with a dynamic positioning system which ensures constant location of the platform right over the wellhead. It has a dual derrick enabling to drill the well simultaneously with casing and wellhead equipment assembly and running operations. This enables to cut well construction cycle by up to 30%.

The rig is 115 meters high with the deck 80 meters wide. Scarabeo-9 has the deadweight of 31 thousand tons and is capable of drilling up to the depth of 15 kilometers.

Offshore Energy Today Staff