Discoverer Enterprise
Encyclopedia
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 (53.3 cm) outside diameter (OD) marine riser. From 1998 to 2005 the vessel was Panama-flagged and currently flies the flag of convenience
of the Marshall Islands
.
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 dual rigs. The dual rigs which simultaneously perform various aspects of drilling a well eliminated the traditional one step at a time process and according to Transocean increased efficiency by 40 percent.
The US$360 million ship gives its name to the Enterprise Class
of large deepwater drillships.
under contract to BP
. On June 3, 2010 after the lower marine riser package (LMRP) cap was placed on the ruptured undersea Deepwater Horizon oil spill
it was connected via a drilling riser
to the ship where oil was collected and gas was flared
.
Although Discoverer Enterprise is capable of handling 15000 oilbbl/d, the Deepwater Horizon spill is believed to be producing more than that. The Helix Energy Group Q4000
is being configured to handle the excess. Q4000 is onsite because it was used in the failed top kill
attempt.
Drillship
A drillship is a maritime vessel that has been fitted with drilling apparatus. It is most often used for exploratory offshore drilling of new oil or gas wells in deep water or for scientific drilling. The drillship can also be used as a platform to carry out well maintenance or completion work such...
(Astano FPSO design) owned and operated by Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc.
Transocean
Transocean Ltd. is one of the world's largest offshore drilling contractors. The company rents floating mobile drill rigs, along with the equipment and personnel for operations, to oil and gas companies at an average daily rate of US$282,700...
, 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
Blowout preventer
A blowout preventer is a large, specialized valve used to seal, control and monitor oil and gas wells. Blowout preventers were developed to cope with extreme erratic pressures and uncontrolled flow emanating from a well reservoir during drilling. Kicks can lead to a potentially catastrophic...
(BOP), and a 21 in (53.3 cm) outside diameter (OD) marine riser. From 1998 to 2005 the vessel was Panama-flagged and currently flies the flag of convenience
Flag of convenience
The term flag of convenience describes the business practice of registering a merchant ship in a sovereign state different from that of the ship's owners, and flying that state's civil ensign on the ship. Ships are registered under flags of convenience to reduce operating costs or avoid the...
of the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
.
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 dual rigs. The dual rigs which simultaneously perform various aspects of drilling a well eliminated the traditional one step at a time process and according to Transocean increased efficiency by 40 percent.
The US$360 million ship gives its name to the Enterprise Class
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of large deepwater drillships.
Deepwater Horizon spill response
The ship currently operates in the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
under contract to BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
. On June 3, 2010 after the lower marine riser package (LMRP) cap was placed on the ruptured undersea Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
it was connected via a drilling riser
Drilling riser
A drilling riser is a conduit that provides a temporary extension of a subsea oil well to a surface drilling facility. Drilling risers are categorised into two types: marine drilling risers used with subsea blowout preventer and generally used by floating drilling vessels; and tie-back drilling...
to the ship where oil was collected and gas was flared
Gas flare
A gas flare, alternatively known as a flare stack, is an elevated vertical conveyance found accompanying the presence of oil wells, gas wells, rigs, refineries, chemical plants, natural gas plants, and landfills....
.
Although Discoverer Enterprise is capable of handling 15000 oilbbl/d, the Deepwater Horizon spill is believed to be producing more than that. The Helix Energy Group Q4000
Q4000
Q4000 is a unique multi-purpose oil field construction and intervention vessel commissioned in 1999 by Cal Dive International, and was built at the Keppel AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas. She was delivered in 2002 within the $180 million budget, and operates under the flag of the United...
is being configured to handle the excess. Q4000 is onsite because it was used in the failed top kill
Top kill
A top kill is a procedure used as a means of regaining control over an oil well that is experiencing an uncontrolled eruption of crude oil or natural gas . The process involves pumping heavyweight drilling mud into the well...
attempt.
External links
- Transocean official website
- Discoverer Enterprise — V7HD2 — position and weather at SailwxSailwxSailwx is an integrated maritime information service that aggregates worldwide ship locations into a single map. Weather conditions including ocean currents, wave height and tides are also available and can be integrated into ship location maps....