Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26
By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:
"Prime Exeter" floating drilling rig, designed for the operations in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea, will not be used in Azerbaijan, a source on the oil and gas market of Azerbaijan told Trend Aug.25.
The source said that the platform is under contract with Petronas company and is not yet ready to carry out its orders.
"Prime Exerter rig is not yet ready to carry out their orders and is in the process of testing," said the source. "Accordingly, its use in Azerbaijan is also impossible. In principle, SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) could use the platform, for example, to drill a well at the Umid field, but most likely, it will not do so, as it requires additional costs. Therefore, when the platform is ready for use, it will be sent to Turkmenistan."
Prime Exerter, built in France in 1981 and owned by Singapore's company Ezion Holdings, was completely dismantled in Holland in 2014. Prime Exerter was contracted by Petronas company for drilling in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. The platform is capable of operating in the water depth which is not more than 90 meters. The maximum drilling depth is 7,600 meters.
Earlier, the rig has been repaired at the construction site of Caspian Shipyard Company in Baku.
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