All 108 nonessential personnel on a Transocean semi-submersible rig stationed in deep water off Ghana were evacuated after water was seen on board.
The Transocean Marianas, operated by Italy’s Eni, was not drilling and was preparing to move at the time the ingress was noticed aboard the rig, Transocean spokesman Guy Cantwell told Upstream.
“All 108 nonessential staff have been evacuated as a precaution as per company policy,” Cantwell said, adding that 13 essential staff remained on board.
"The rig is stable at this time. There were no injuries,” Cantwell said.
The rig is understood to be partially moored.
Cantwell said Transocean has launched its own investigation into the cause of the ingress and is “engineering solutions to remedy the condition”.
Eni was not immediately available for comment.
Marianas is contracted to Eni at a dayrate of $450,000. The rig can operate in water depths of up to 7000 feet and can drill to a depth of 25,000 feet.
The semi-sub spudded the first exploration well at the Macondo prospect in 2009 but was moved off the project after sustaining damage from Hurricane Ida.
Transocean, the world’s largest offshore drilling contractor, provides the most versatile fleet of mobile offshore drilling units to help customers find and develop oil and natural gas reserves. Building on more than 50 years of experience with the highest specification rigs, our 18,000 employees are focused on safety and premier offshore drilling performance.
The Transocean Marianas, operated by Italy’s Eni, was not drilling and was preparing to move at the time the ingress was noticed aboard the rig, Transocean spokesman Guy Cantwell told Upstream.
“All 108 nonessential staff have been evacuated as a precaution as per company policy,” Cantwell said, adding that 13 essential staff remained on board.
"The rig is stable at this time. There were no injuries,” Cantwell said.
The rig is understood to be partially moored.
Cantwell said Transocean has launched its own investigation into the cause of the ingress and is “engineering solutions to remedy the condition”.
Eni was not immediately available for comment.
Marianas is contracted to Eni at a dayrate of $450,000. The rig can operate in water depths of up to 7000 feet and can drill to a depth of 25,000 feet.
The semi-sub spudded the first exploration well at the Macondo prospect in 2009 but was moved off the project after sustaining damage from Hurricane Ida.
Transocean, the world’s largest offshore drilling contractor, provides the most versatile fleet of mobile offshore drilling units to help customers find and develop oil and natural gas reserves. Building on more than 50 years of experience with the highest specification rigs, our 18,000 employees are focused on safety and premier offshore drilling performance.
