This information is unconfirmed but the source is highly reputable:
We just received word this morning that the Transocean Marianas rig has developed a large crack in one of the pontoons on the #5/#6 anchor chain locker while they were picking up anchors, and is currently taking on water and listing. The bilge pumps are keeping up (barely), but there’s certainly concern that it might sink on location. So far, 68 people have been evacuated from location.
According to RigZone, the Marianas was working offshore Nigeria. [Per one of our readers, (see comment below) Petrodata shows the rig operating offshore Ghana.]
More: The Marianas, spudded the Macondo in October, 2009, but was damaged by Hurricane Ida and towed to shore. The Deepwater Horizon was the rig that replaced the Marianas.
ODS Petrodata reports it to be operated by Eni off the coast of Ghana right now.
Thank you John.
It’s quite a statement reading the previous Bloomberg posting published 20/06/11 below,
” Transocean : no apologies over Gulf Oil spill” and as I read the BOE details ,
“2010 The best performance in our company’s history” not much to regain confidence after a GOM 5 millions barrels spill and so much loss of life. Hopefully no one will get hurt this time, and the rig will not collapse exactly on top of the open or closed ? BOP.
The rig is offshore Ghana, west of Takoradi.
It seems that they have got control over the list at the moment.
The rig is not connected to anything on the seabed, it happened in the middle of a rigmove.
Thank you for the additional information.
There are two remaining anchor systems and one broken system, before the rig can be towed to shallow water.
You would think that they would have a backup plan for this sort of thing.
It’s not us and them, the big bad oil companies. A big part of the standard of living of the “civilized” western bloc is the result of their endeavors. Naturally, as commercial enterprises, they wish to avoid huge accidents with these behemoths, simply from a financial point of view, let alone the negative public relations. But like all human organizations, they sometimes fall down on the job.
The drilling contractor should make no apology where the responsibility rests on the shoulders of BP’s “company man” that is on the rig and ultimately responsible for the direction for EVERYTHING that moves on the rig, including the drilling contractors staff and equipment. If Halliburton bodged-up the cement job and this was a contributing factor then they should apologize too! Rigs make hole and run pipe, they don’t cement it and they are not in charge of the drilling program.
The World Never Needed Fossil Fuels How stupid are it’s so called leaders to ignore the energy of the oceans and the verszatitlity of Industrial Hemp? Very Stupid, capricious, greedy and criminal. They’d rather rape the earth than conserve it.