ECONOMY
MAERSK CONTRACTORS AND EXXON AZERBAIJAN OPERATING COMPANY INAUGURATE ‘ LIDER’ DEEPWATER DRILLING RIG
In February 2001, Maersk Contractors, Exxon Azerbaijan, Chevron Overseas Petroleum Azerbaijan Limited, ConocoPhillips, Limited and Total Exploration and Production Azerbaijan agreed to build the new rig, formerly called the DSS-20, to expand the drilling infrastructure in the Caspian Sea. The rig owner, Maersk Contractors, subsequently contracts KeppelFels and the Caspian Shipyard Company for construction of the rig.
Tage Bundgaard, President of Maersk Contractors, said: ‘We are very proud of this new highly advanced rig. We fully expect ‘Lider’ to prove its state-of-the-art capabilities during the upcoming contract with Exxon Azerbaijhan and other operators in the Caspian region. Caspian Shipyard company has proved to be a very proficient rig constructor and we hope that this will be the first of many Maersk rigs to be working in the Caspian Sea’.
The ‘ Lider’ is the largest and most powerful rig in the Caspian Sea, capable of operating at water depths of 75 to 1.000 meters and drilling to a depth of more than 9.000 meters. It was designed with great emphasis of safety and protection of the environment. The first ‘ Lider’ well will be drilled on the Exxon Azerbaijan-operated Zafar Mashal structure.
Drew Goodbread, General Manager, Exxon Azerbaijan, said: ‘Lider’ will significantly expand the drilling infrastructure in the Caspian Sea, and we are very proud to play a role in this outstanding effort. Working together with the government, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic and our industry associates, we look forward to reaching new depths with the ‘Lider’ to explore for oil in Azerbaijan’.
Most of the construction work on the new rig was carried out in Baku, which provided employment opportunities for nearly one thousand Azerbaijani nationals and many local companies. The construction of the rig is a good example of the benefits than can be drawn from cooperation among the government, international companies and others who made this project a success.