GSP Saturn
Encyclopedia
GSP Saturn 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 Energean Oil & Gas for drilling in the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
section of the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. The drilling unit is registered in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
.
Description
GSP Saturn 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 1988. The rig was completely reconstructed and refurbished in 2009 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 1988 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
GSP Orizont
GSP Orizont is a semi-submersible, jackup independent leg cantilever drilling rig operated by GSP Drilling, a Grup Servicii Petroliere subsidiary, and currently contracted by Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company for drilling in the Iranian section of the Persian Gulf...
, 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) 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 Saturn 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 Saturn is equipped with advanced drilling equipment and has to meet strict levels of certification under international law. GSP Saturn 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 Saturn is operated by the GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
company Energean Oil & Gas which ises the drilling rig at its Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
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. On 7 December 2010 the GSP Saturn started a 35 day drilling program at the Epsilon oil field
Epsilon oil field
The Epsilon oil field is an oil field located in the Aegean Sea. It was discovered in 2000 and developed by Energean Oil & Gas. It began production in 2010 and produces oil. The total proven reserves of the Epsilon oil field are around 30 million barrels , and production is centered around ....
which will help the field boost its oil production by 5000 oilbbl/d. After finishing this program the rig will be moved to the South Kavala gas field.