COSLPIONEER DELIVERY

The COSLPIONEER is the first 6th Generation semi-submersible drilling rig that has been constructed in China for worldwide operations including operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The vessel is a GM4000 design, developed by Global Maritime A/S in Stavanger, Norway. Global Maritime is an innovative engineering design house with head office in Stavanger and has been in the forefront for new developments within several business areas such as well intervention and oil recovery (Marracc – Island Innovator – “The rig is the first of its kind” according to Maracc’s web site) and decommissioning.

The COSLPioneer is the first out of three similar units being built at CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd. in Yantai, China and is built for China Oilfield Service Limited (COSL). The original company, that COSL bought, was founded in Stavanger in 2005 (Offrig AS) and established to use the latest and most advanced marine and drilling systems, most of which were constructed in Norway.

The vessel was tailor-made for harsh environment and fully compliant with Norwegian and international rules and regulations for operations in water depths up to 800 meters. In Norway, more than 95% of the oil fields are situated in water depths below 500 meters. She was designed in 2005 and 2006 when all the industry including designers, oil operators and drilling contractors designed and started constructing only ultra large deep water units for drilling in water depths ranging up to 2000 meters. The strategic foresight for the development of these units coincides with the current market, technical, operational and economical needs. Statoil has approved the design and two of the units have been contracted by them for 8 years each with an optional period up to another 8 years.  

The success of this project marks a milestone for drilling operations in Norway as the industry now has taken delivery of a proven design which is “fit for purpose” for the tasks needed. The rig design is based on the best equipment and operational philosophy that is currently needed by Statoil and other NCS operators for current and future drilling operations in the North Sea.