[QUOTE=Drill Bill;190927]Yes, of course that how it mostly goes. It’s just that in this case I saw that the Diamond rig isn’t really at or alongside a yard; it seems to be drifting (probably anchored) just west off the Sembcorp Marine Tuas yard with some tugs around (at least according to MarineTraffic). Which made think it was maybe already some maintenance (or replacement) of those thrusters.[/QUOTE]
There are likely a lot of activity by tugs and barges when this operation is ongoing, but the rig is hardly likely to move about much.
From the picture in post #17 she appears to have 4 anchors installed and deployed.
The normal procedure is to remove the thrusters on arrival, before moving to the yard for whatever major work to be carried out. On completion the rig is towed back to the anchorage to re-install thrusters, before departing Singapore under tow, or under own power. (If loaded out on a HLV the thrusters are usually kept on deck)
Minor work, testing, commissioning and receiving supplies would normally be going on at the same time as thruster installation.
It does appear that she is at anchorage ATTV, which is close to Sembcorp’s Mega Yard at Tuas South. Since Jurong West Anchorage was closed, this is the area used for such operations, or for loading/off-loading semi-submersible HLV. (Or anything else involving Rigs)
Crikey
So they had to take them off and get worked on after the trip from Korea?
If they last that long they will have to come off again before it works in the bight?
[QUOTE=powerabout;191077]Crikey
So they had to take them off and get worked on after the trip from Korea?
If they last that long they will have to come off again before it works in the bight?[/QUOTE]
As said earlier, thrusters are removed to go alongside at the yard, not necessarily because they have a problem. Normal routine operation.
[QUOTE=ombugge;191081]As said earlier, thrusters are removed to go alongside at the yard, not necessarily because they have a problem. Normal routine operation.[/QUOTE]
well, routine or not, they’re not going anywhere for now and the rig is idle in the South China Sea.
There was a small bilge pumped in the south of oz a few years back,oil went ashore on a penguin colony.
EPA in OZ chased various vessels in Asia to find the culprit.
Was a Shell vessel, once that hit the news no Australian would be seen dead in Shell station, was amazing the collective protest the next day.
[QUOTE=Drill Bill;191117]well, routine or not, they’re not going anywhere for now and the rig is idle in the South China Sea.
Also not helpful for the Bight drilling plans is an oil spill that happened over the weekend, at one of the BP platforms off the Shetlands: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-37553656. Images of sheens and slicks is not what they need now down under.[/QUOTE]
An oil leak from a [U]production[/U] platform west of Shetland dispersing in open waters is equated with risk of oil spill from exploration drilling in the GAB?
What is the common denominator here? [B]BP!!![/B]
So the logic is:
BP “caused” a blowout in the GOM = BP Bad.
A leak happened from a BP platform off Shetland = BP Bad
Therefore; BP drilling exploration well in the GAB = High risk of spill.
Solution: Ban BP. Ban offshore drilling. Ban everything that MAY cause a danger of oil spill, especially foreign ships.
That BP also has drilled wells and produced oil and gas offshore for many year without major accidents doesn’t count in the public opinion.
PS> Doing sea trials, incl. DP trials, in the South China Sea near Horsburgh, but away from the main shipping lane, is not unusual. Sometimes for weeks. (Don’t know if that is what they are doing, though)
OZ is a net exporter of energy as so much gas leaves which helps pay for crude imports which I guess are also dropping as soon there wont be any refining in OZ.
Maybe the public are saying keep the dirty part of the business in another country?
just saw that the OCEAN GREATWHITE left Singapore yesterday. Destination still unclear but it didn’t take that long for BP & Diamond Offshore to find an alternative apparently.
Latest news on the prospect of drilling in the Great Australian Bight: http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/sa/2017/06/09/oil-gas-company-drill-bight/
I don’t know if Statoil will have any more luck on convincing the Australian public and Government that to drill exploration wells isn’t a guaranteed blowout and oil spill.
PS> I doubt they will be using the rig featured on the illustration picture, but could the Ocean Great White get back in the picture, or is it working somewhere else?
Yes a harsh-environment rig indeed. The long swells are as much a problem as the strong winds. They MAY even have to do some modifications to the columns to get the natural heave period at operating draft to well over 20 sec..
I’m sure they’ve got heaps of experience (and a good dose of pride) but probably not wise to jump into this venture without any (big) partner.
In times like these, with the industry not at it’s best, I’d also be surprised if they really wanna throw money at this. And if investors and shareholders will let them.