Discoverer Enterprise is a fifth generation deepwater double hulled dynamically positioned drillship (ASTANO FPSO design) owned and operated by Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc., capable of operating in moderate environments and water depths up to 3,049 m (10,000 ft) using an 18.75 in (47.6 cm), 15,000 psi blowout preventer (BOP), and a 21 in (53 cm) outside diameter (OD) marine riser.[3] From 1998 to 2005 the vessel was Panama-flagged and currently flies the flag of convenience of the Marshall Islands.[2]
 Discoverer Enterprise in the foreground on May 26, 2010, directly over the blowout preventer during the top kill procedure in the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Discoverer Enterprise |
| Owner | Triton Asset Leasing GmbH |
| Operator | Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc. |
| Port of registry |  Marshall Islands, Majuro |
| Builder | Astilleros y Talleres del Noroeste (ASTANO), Fene, Spain |
| Laid down | 14 March 1997 |
| Launched | 1 August 1998 |
| Completed | 1999 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Scrapped in 2019/2020[1] |
| Notes | [2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | DNV 1A1 Ship-shaped Drilling Unit Storage Unit HELDK CRANE E0 DYNPOS-AUTR |
| Tonnage | 69,500 DWT; 63,190 GT |
| Length | 254.4 m (835 ft) |
| Beam | 38.05 m (124.8 ft) |
| Draught | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | > 200 |
| Notes | [2] |
Discoverer Enterprise has two sister ships, Discoverer Spirit completed in 1999, and Discoverer Deep Seas completed in 2000.
The ship was the first to offer a dual drilling derrick capability. The dual derricks allowed simultaneous operations to be performed, and according to Transocean increased efficiency by 40 percent.[4]
The US$360 million ship gives its name to the Enterprise Class of large deepwater drillships.[5]
Deepwater Horizon spill response
editThe ship operates in the Gulf of Mexico under contract to BP. The drilling vessel has equipment that allow it to process hydrocarbons, and is capable of handling up to 15,000 barrels per day (2,400 m3/d).[6] On June 3, 2010, several weeks after the explosion of Deepwater Horizon, Discoverer Enterprise was used to collect oil and gas from the damaged subsea wellhead by lowering a cap connected via a drilling riser over the release, and collecting oil and gas.[7]
-
Q4000 and Discoverer Enterprise flare off gas at the site of drilling operations at the Deepwater Horizon response site in the Gulf of Mexico at night 8 July 2010.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ https://www.vesseltracker.com/de/Ships/Discovererenterprise-9186792.html
- ^ a b c "Discoverer Enterprise (19643)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ^ "Discoverer Enterprise". Transocean. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ Transocean Dual Rig Promotion Video (video). Transocean. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ "Transocean Offshore Inc. Drillship Discoverer Enterprise Begins Five-Year Contract With BP Amoco". PR Newswire. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 7 June 2010.[dead link]
- ^ Laura Meckler; Jonathan Weisman (8 June 2010). "Obama to Reopen Oil Drilling". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico". USA.gov. 7 June 2010. Archived from the original on 6 February 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2010.