A new deep-water, semi-submersible drilling rig called the "Coslprospector" headed from Yantai, Shandong province to the South China Sea on April 30. The rig was produced by the Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd.

A new deep-water, semi-submersible drilling rig called the "Coslprospector" is produced by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd and heads from Yantai in Shandong province to the South China Sea on April 30, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

It is the fourth drilling rig delivered by CIMC Raffles for China Oilfield Services Ltd (COSL) and COSL's second Chinese-made rig to work in the South China Sea.

Accommodating up to 130 people, the "Coslprospector" took 35 months to be built and can operate in seawater depths of up to 1,500 meters and drill to a depth of 7,600 meters at a temperature of minus 20 degree Celsius. The rig can resist winds of up to 117 km per hour and is designed with a maximum variable deck load of 5,000 tons. It is also equipped with the most advanced NOV drilling system and DP3 dynamic position systems available on the market.

The "Coslprospector", a new deep-water, semi-submersible drilling rig, is produced by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd and heads from Yantai in Shandong province to the South China Sea on April 30, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Since its delivery on Nov 19 2014, a team of 80 engineers has been committed to undertaking 25 preparation projects, including ROV systems, combustion beam systems and mud log systems to ensure the rig's smooth operation in the South China Sea.

A team of engineers has been committed to undertaking 25 preparation projects, including ROV system, combustion beam system and mud log system, to ensure the rig's smooth operation in the South China Sea. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd has produced nine deep-water semi-submersible rigs since 2010. They have been used in seawaters off Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. Another five deep-water semi-submersible drilling platforms are currently under construction.

Edited by Jacob Hooson