2000Technology Pioneers

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Drilling (Mobile Drilling Units)

First & Second Generation Semi Submersible Drilling Rigs

Deepwater drilling dictates that operations be carried out from a floating vessel. Drillships heave, pitch and yaw with each passing wave, and the industry needed more stable drilling platforms. A semi submersible obtains its buoyancy from ballasted, watertight, pontoons located below the ocean surface and wave action. The operating deck is located above the tops of the passing waves. Structural columns connect the pontoons and operating deck. When the rig moves its location, the pontoons are de-ballasted so that the rig can float on the ocean surface.

In 1961, Shell Oil successfully converted an existing submersible rig into the first semi submersible drilling unit for operation in the Gulf of Mexico. The industry quickly accepted the semi concept and the fleet increased rapidly to 30 units by 1972. At present, there are about 160 semi submersibles in service. First generation semis are generally limited to water depths of less than 600 feet, and second generation are usually intended for water depths up to 1000 feet. Most of these early semis have been retired.

Year	Rig Name	Features	Designer	No. Built
1961	Bluewater I	First semi submersible, converted from existing 4 column submersible	Shell Oil	1
1963	Ocean Driller	First new build; 3 col. Vee shaped structure	ODECO	2
1965	Sedco 135	3 footed columns; arranged in a triangular shape	Friede & Goldman	12
1969	Pentagone 81	5 footed columns arranged in pentagon shape	Neptune	11
1971	Ocean Prospector	First self-propelled, 12 columns; 2 main tubular hulls; Ocean Victory class	ODECO	11
1973	Sedco 700	Twin pontoon hulls; 8 columns thruster propulsion	Earl & Wright	15
1973	Western Pacesetter	Twin pontoon hulls; 6 columns design licensed to all	Friede & Goldman	39
1974	Deap Sea Driller	Twin pontoon hulls, 8 columns (known as Aker H-3 Design)	Aker Mek Verksted	29

Recognizing the pioneering efforts of the following people and companies who contributed to the development of this technology:

Bruce Collipp, Jerome Goldman, Alden J. "Doc" Laborde,
Bill Martinovich, Fred Olsen, Andre Rey-Grange,
Aker Mek Verksted,
Earl & Wright, a Sedco Company (Transocean Inc.),
Friede & Goldman (Friede Goldman Halter),
Neptune (Transocean Inc.),
ODECO (Diamond Offshore Drilling), Shell

2011 Call for Nominations

2011 Industry Pioneer Nomination Form

2011 Technology Pioneer Nomination Form

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