Several of the Diamond Semisubmersibles have both anchor chain and wire for mooring in deep water. I’m almost certain that there are many others capable of being moored in more than 5000 feet of water.
Google “deepest moored rig”. Lots of information there.
In 1995, Ocean Valiant, a semi submersible drilling unit, set a new world water depth record for moored drilling vessel in 4,864 feet in the Gulf of Mexico.
[U]http://www.aquaria-prima.com/our-partners.html[/U]
[QUOTE=anchorman;31313]That is a big negative on that information. The Nautilus has held the record for deepest moored rig…around 9,000 feet deep AC 857. The DeepWater Nautilus only had two thrusters - that were lost when the rig ran aground during hurricane Rita. We were setting VL anchors for the Nautilus just south east of the Horizon. The Nautilus can be moored to the extent of modern technology of their drilling package.[/QUOTE]
Sorry for the confusion, Anchorman, that was exactly my point – Nautilus is moored while Horizon is DP.
[QUOTE=lfgd521rc;31317]Several of the Diamond Semisubmersibles have both anchor chain and wire for mooring in deep water. I’m almost certain that there are many others capable of being moored in more than 5000 feet of water.
Google “deepest moored rig”. Lots of information there.
In 1995, Ocean Valiant, a semi submersible drilling unit, set a new world water depth record for moored drilling vessel in 4,864 feet in the Gulf of Mexico.
[U]http://www.aquaria-prima.com/our-partners.html[/U][/QUOTE]
Ment to say no DP Rig, yes until the Nautilius the Valiant and it’s sister ship the America were the big dogs and had anchors.
Any updates on the Horizon’s condition / listing? Are they able to stabilze her or still fighting the fire? I hope the activation of the BOP stack was successful or that they can re-establish communication to the LMRP.
[QUOTE=kwCharlie;31316]NO RIG has anchors capable of being dropped in 5000’ foot of water, what anchors the horizon has are for PORT. The NAUTILUS had all it’s anchors removed in Galveston and the Harbor Pilot had a real fit when he realized he was in charge of a boat being towed in the harbor that didn’t have ANY anchors, i mean he had a REAL fit in the Pilot House, red faced and big eyed fit, told R&B they would NEVER bring anything into Galveston again.[/QUOTE]
I remember that. Even the Nautilus, which is a moored rig, does not have their conventional anchors. They’re stored, and were stored in Galveston. Surprised the insurance underwriters allowed the vessel to transit without at least two anchors while in port. Most anchors - deepwater mooring technologies are suction piles or VLA’s in deepwater. Those anchors are pre-set and ready for the rig to be hooked up to - before the rig gets to location - and all this is with the assistance of anchor boats. Conventional anchors can only be set in 5,000’ of water with a vessel that can load share with the rig’s winches.
[QUOTE=cmakin;31321]I think that it will be difficult to find an ROV capable of working at that depth and at a distance far enough away from the heat of the fire.[/QUOTE]
The ROV’s have been working and the fire continues. Most ROV’s have - at the most - 3,000’ of tether. Depth is not an issue for the ROV.
Several service companies can provide the required services: http://www.oceaneering.com/rovs/magnum-plus-rov/ These units can be put on a supply vessel if needed and launched from the back of vessel by crane with good weather conditions.
I thought you would anchorman, it’s GE Charlie here, but lets not clutter this with war stories, if you get time PM me but don’t let it get in the way of keeping us updated.
Several of you still miss the point. It wouldn’t matter if she had 25’ of anchor chain or 25000’, I’m not talking about mooring, read the statement and the question again. I’m not talking about a DP rig anchoring in that depth - what I’m asking about if she has damn chain lockers, which getting to the down flooding angle gentlemen - that’s the point of no return for most semi-submersibles.
If she has no winches, then her chain lockers are sealed most likely. If she has one or two, winches, then the chain lockers can fill up - if not fitted with closing devices.
[QUOTE=userGOM;31309]I know she’s dp, but most dp rigs/ships have at least two anchors, Express series has at least 4 but wire I think instead of chain. If she doesn’t have any, then R&B were cutting cost at the end of construction, since the Nautilus, moored, has eight fitted to her hull.[/QUOTE]
She has no anchors at all, not even a mooring anchor. The Nautilus is not DP. She has/had two retractable positioning thrusters but they had no DP capabilities.
[QUOTE=ontheroad;31331]Any eyes out there that are able to conform this? More reason to close the BOP stack.[/QUOTE]
My husband is on a support vessel and called me right after it happened. He said the oil/fire spread to the water and the boats were told to move back and shortly after the rig capsized and sunk.
My husband is an ROV tech who works in the Gulf and if he were ever on a vessel or rig with this type of emergency I would hate every single second that I had to wait to hear news about him. HOWEVER, I would understand that notifiing me would be very LOW on the priorities list when a fire is STILL raging and 11 people are un-accounted for. I appreciate all that BP, Chouest, Oceaneering and Transocean are do to keep our families safe and pray that this turns out well for all. God Bless you all and thanks to all the posters, especiallly anchoman, for keeping us posted.