New oil rig marks innovative breakthrough

The advanced deep-sea oil platform marks another milestone in Chinese design and engineering. Its innovations improve both the security and efficiency of offshore oil exploration.


The advanced deep-sea oil platform marks another milestone in Chinese design and engineering. Its innovations improve both the security and efficiency of offshore oil exploration.

Oceanic Petroleum 9-8-1 platform can drill for oil 3-thousand meters below sea level. The deck on the 130-meter-high rig covers an area about the size of a football field.

Setting new standards in work safety was one of the key priorities for the rig's engineers. It is designed to withstand powerful seas and winds and remain stable at all times.

Chen Gang, Engineering Director of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Ship Building, said, "In total, there are 12 anchor chains - three on each of the four pillars. We've called the the rig's stabilizing system."

The 12 anchor chains are tightly fitted to the platform to ensure it remains stationary in water as deep as 15-hundred meters. For water deeper than that, the platform will use a supplementary stabilizing system.

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