CIMC Raffles to Build Deepwater Semisub Accommodation Rig for C.Helios

Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Limited (CIMC Raffles) announced Wednesday that it receives a new order for a deepwater semisubmersible accommodation rig CR600 from C. Helios Limited. The CR600 design and IP rights are fully developed and owned by CIMC Raffles. This marks the 14th deepwater semisubmersible rig project for the prominent Chinese offshore shipbuilder. 

With a total length of 349 feet (106.45 meters), width of 226 feet (68.9 meters), deck area of 22,604 square feet (2,100 square meters) and two 60 metric ton deck cranes, DP3 dynamic positioning system and accommodation for 600 personnel, the CR600 accommodation rig is compliant with ABS Accommodation Service, MLC2006 Character of Society, ABS HAB+(MODU), underwater UWILD requirement and also noise and vibration requirements of UK HSE for the living quarters. Its designed operating areas include Brazil, Gulf of Mexico and West Africa, as well as the UK North Sea.

Since 2010, CIMC Raffles has delivered a total of nine deepwater semisubmersible rigs. Two of these are 100 percent self-designed semisubmersible heavy-lift and accommodation rigs that are currently operating in the Campos Basin of Brazil for Petrobras with an effective working rate of 99.2 percent in July. Another four units of deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs are presently under construction at CIMC Raffles: two 7th generation ultra-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs for worldwide operations and two harsh environment deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs for the Norwegian North Sea. The new accommodation rig order enriches the offshore product lineup of CIMC Raffles and realizes its functional serialization of semisubmersible rig types.

Separately, CIMC Raffles announced that in anticipation of the offshore industry’s requirement for economical, highly efficient and safer drilling rigs to replace the existing older-generation fleet marked for retirement, the company jointly developed the BT5000 mid-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig with renowned offshore rig designer Bassoe Technology. The BT5000 drilling rig is designed to operate in the UK continental shelf and equipped with a high-performance drilling system. It is capable of operating at water depths up to 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) and drill wells down to 30,000 feet (9,144 meters). It is able to operate at minus 10 degree Celsius and comes equipped with 8-point mooring system and DPS-1 thruster assist system for station keeping. The BT5000 drilling rig is designed to comply with UK HSE standards and requirements, and will be classified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). With its superior hull design, the BT5000 drilling rig maintains good motion characteristics in harsh environmental conditions. Comparing with similar rig types, it promises a significantly better operational performance and takes lead amongst the upcoming new generation of high performance, economical mid-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs in the offshore industry.

CIMC Raffles has reached agreements with potential clients to design and build 2+4 units of BT5000 mid-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs. CIMC Capital is committed to support the BT5000 project and has already confirmed the participation of several industry and financial investors. The BT5000 drilling rig is earmarked to be the next strategic semisubmersible product of CIMC Offshore.