Global and China Offshore Rig Industry Report, 2011

Reportstack, provider of premium market research reports announces the addition of Global and China Offshore Rig Industry Report, 2011 market report to its offering

Offshore rig can be divided into 8 categories, i.e., drill barge, drillship, inland barge, jack-up, platform rig, semisub, submersible and tender. As of Dec.15, 2011, there had been 48 drill barges, 73 drillships, 74 inland barges, 491 jack-ups, 250 platform rigs, 210 semisubs, 5 submersibles and 40 tenders.

Drillship, jack-up and semisub are the most common. As of Dec.15, 2011, there had been 54 drillships under construction, with the unit price of USD550 million - 650 million; 67 jack-ups under construction, with the unit price of USD140 million -230 million; 16 semisubs under construction, with a large price range. The rigs in harsh waters (such as South China Sea, Gulf of Mexico, North Sea) are expensive, for instance, China's "Offshore Oil 981" costs USD950 million; while a rig working in peaceful waters (such as the waters in West Africa) just values USD150 million.
 
Undoubtedly, drillships take a lion’s share, 55%, in the offshore rig market. Drillships are mainly used in the waters with the depth of more than 3,000 feet. Currently, most of the drillships under construction have the rated water depth of 10,000-12,000 feet, and their maximum drilling depth is generally 35,000-40,000 feet. The drillship Sedco No.445 designed by Earl & Wright in 1971, built by Japan's Mitsui and managed by Sedco is the world's first drillship, with the largest rated water depth of 7,200 feet. As yet, the drillship is still at work, but it is rendered to detect seabed mineral resources, rather than drilling.

Most of drillships before 2000 were built when the oil crisis occurred. At present, only about 20 drillships of them are still working, most of which were built by Japanese and European manufacturers. After 2000, the human being endeavors to explore oil and gas resources in deep waters, which generates soaring demand for drillships. South Korean builders almost monopolize the market; Samsung Heavy Industries is building 20 drillships, DSME 10 units and Hyundai Heavy Industries 11 units. Brazil's EAS is building 7 drillships. EAS is a joint venture co-funded by Samsung Heavy Industries, Queiroz Galvao and Camargo Correa. Dalian Subsidiary of South Korea's STX is building 2 drillships now.

The drillship built by COSCO Shipyard for Dalian Deepwater Developer is China's first drillship, with the maximum drilling depth of 30,000 feet. CSSC's Shanghai Shipyard is building 2 drillships now, with the designed rated water depth of merely 3,000 feet.

The operation of drilling rigs is risky. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill made BP have to pay tens of billions of dollars. For the operation of drilling rigs, the requirements on operators are very high; particularly in harsh seas and deep waters, and the requirements on the qualification of the staff are strict. This is why most of drilling rigs are not operated by oil giants, but by veteran operators. High risks and threshold bring high returns. The operating margin of drilling rig operators is almost never less than 30%, even 40% or more is common. These operators do not care about the short-term ups and downs of oil prices, and they are making long-term (5-10 years) plans. Even in the economic downturn, they dare to conduct large-scale investment.


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