GSP Orizont
Encyclopedia
GSP Orizont is a semi-submersible
Semi-submersible
A semi-submersible is a specialised marine vessel with good stability and seakeeping characteristics. The semi-submersible vessel design is commonly used in a number of specific offshore roles such as for offshore drilling rigs, safety vessels, oil production platforms and heavy lift cranes.The...
, jackup independent leg cantilever drilling rig
Offshore drilling
Offshore drilling refers to a mechanical process where a wellbore is drilled through the seabed. It is typically carried out in order to explore for and subsequently produce hydrocarbons which lie in rock formations beneath the seabed...
operated by GSP Drilling
Grup Servicii Petroliere
Grup Servicii Petroliere is a Romanian company providing offshore integrated services for oil&gas industryThe company, established in 2004, is a member of ....
, a Grup Servicii Petroliere
Grup Servicii Petroliere
Grup Servicii Petroliere is a Romanian company providing offshore integrated services for oil&gas industryThe company, established in 2004, is a member of ....
subsidiary, and currently contracted by Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company
Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company
Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company is the first Iranian general contractor to the oil and gas industries. IOEC specializes in offshore engineering, procurement, construction, pipe coating, pipelaying, and installation of jackets, top sides, etc...
for drilling in the Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian section of the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. The drilling unit is registered in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
.
Description
GSP Orizont drilling rig was designed by Sonnat Offshore and was built by PetromPetrom
Petrom is a Romanian oil company, the largest corporation in Romania and the largest gas and oil producer in Eastern Europe operating in several countries:*Romania - largest company;*Moldova - 2nd largest company, 31% market share;...
at the Galaţi Shipyard
Port of Galati
The Port of Galaţi is the largest Romanian river port. Located in the city of Galaţi on the Danube river, the port is an important source of revenue for the city because many large international companies have established there....
in 1982. The rig was completely reconstructed and refurbished in 2010 at a cost of US$50 million. The rig was owned and operated by Petrom
Petrom
Petrom is a Romanian oil company, the largest corporation in Romania and the largest gas and oil producer in Eastern Europe operating in several countries:*Romania - largest company;*Moldova - 2nd largest company, 31% market share;...
from 1982 to 2005 when the company sold its six offshore platforms (including Atlas
GSP Atlas
GSP Atlas is a four legged jack-up rig, cantilever type with self elevating unit operated by . The drilling unit is registered in Malta.-Description:...
, Jupiter
GSP Jupiter
GSP Jupiter is a semi-submersible, jackup independent leg cantilever drilling rig operated by GSP Drilling, a Grup Servicii Petroliere subsidiary, and currently contracted by Melrose Resources for drilling in the Bulgarian section of the Black Sea...
, Orizont, Prometeu
GSP Prometeu
GSP Prometeu is a semi-submersible, jackup independent leg cantilever drilling rig operated by GSP Drilling, a Grup Servicii Petroliere subsidiary, and currently contracted by Melrose Resources for drilling in the Bulgarian section of the Black Sea...
and Saturn
GSP Saturn
GSP Saturn is a semi-submersible, jackup independent leg cantilever drilling rig operated by GSP Drilling, a Grup Servicii Petroliere subsidiary, and currently contracted by Energean Oil & Gas for drilling in the Greek section of the Mediterranean Sea...
) to Grup Servicii Petroliere
Grup Servicii Petroliere
Grup Servicii Petroliere is a Romanian company providing offshore integrated services for oil&gas industryThe company, established in 2004, is a member of ....
for US$100 million.
GSP Orizont has a length of 52.4 metres (171.9 ft), breadth of 40.8 metres (133.9 ft), draft of 9.75 metres (32 ft), height of 120 metres (393.7 ft) and depth of 6.4 metres (21 ft). She has a maximum drilling depth of 9100 metres (29,855.6 ft) and she could operate at a water depth of 91 metres (298.6 ft). As a drilling rig, GSP Orizont is equipped with advanced drilling equipment and has to meet strict levels of certification under international law. GSP Orizont is able to maneuver with its own engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
s (to counter drift
Drift
- Film and literature :* Drift , a 2002 Doctor Who novel* Drift , a series of Japanese films written and directed by Futoshi Jinno* Drift, 2007 experimental short film by Max Hattler* Drift , a fictional character...
and ocean currents), but for long-distance relocation it must be moved by specialist tugboat
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
s. The rig is capable of withstanding severe sea conditions including 12 metres (39.4 ft) waves and 155 kilometre per hour winds.
Operations
Currently the GSP Orizont is operated by the IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian company Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company
Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company
Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company is the first Iranian general contractor to the oil and gas industries. IOEC specializes in offshore engineering, procurement, construction, pipe coating, pipelaying, and installation of jackets, top sides, etc...
which uses the drilling rig at its Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
prospects.