Jack-ups set course for Caspian Sea

By Vladimir Afanasiev Moscow

 30 March 2012 01:04 GMT

Demand for offshore drilling units in the Caspian Sea has recovered in the past three years after a brief slowdown in offshore exploration and development efforts following the sharp drop in oil prices in late 2008.

Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are seeking new jack-up rigs, while Azerbaijan and Iran want semi-submersibles.

Offshore drilling units cannot be easily delivered to the Caspian region from other parts of the world as physical limitations make access difficult. Operators or contractors have to transport new or used units as separate modules via Russia’s Volga-Don canal for local assembly, or order the construction of rigs at Russian yards, scattered around the port of Astrakhan.



Cheleken work At least three new jack-ups are expected in Caspian waters between 2012 and 2013 to satisfy…

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