Out of action: the Discoverer Deep Seas
Fire idles Transocean drillship
An engine room fire will sideline Transocean drillship Discoverer Deep Seas for around 50 days, the US-based drilling contractor said today.
Earlier this month, a fire broke out on the rig while it was drilling for Chevron at the supermajor’s St Malo discovery in the Walker Ridge area of the US Gulf.
A Transocean spokesman said no one was hurt and the company is in the midst of determining the extent of damage to the vessel.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing.
The rig has been moved off location and will be brought into a Gulf coast shipyard for repairs. Transocean has also elected to carry out a scheduled 14-day underwater survey of the unit while it is idle.
The Discoverer Deep Seas is under a long-term contract with Chevron in the US Gulf. The unit’s current day rate is $335,000. The rate jumps to $485,000 per day in March 2009.