The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Oil rig arrives at Chennai port

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 13, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Oil rig arrives at Chennai port

Staff Reporter

To be deployed offshore between Cuddalore and Nagapattinam

SKYSCRAPER: The massive oil rig outside the Chennai Port's outer harbour. — PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN

CHENNAI: A rig used in offshore hydrocarbon exploration and to be deployed in the sea between Cuddalore and Nagapattinam has come to the Chennai port.

The massive equipment, shipped from the U.S. by Aban Offshore, had to be brought to Chennai port's outer harbour following the sea's turbulent condition.

On Friday, senior officials of the Chennai Port Trust held discussions with the company officials. The company officials conveyed that the rig was to be discharged from the ship on which it was mounted, just outside the entry channel of the port, and thereafter floated to the destination.

Sources in the company said the rig, originally called "Rowan Texas" before being renamed as "Aban-VII," was for use by Hindustan Oil Exploration Company. The weight of the rig is around 6,500 tonnes.

While assuring help from the port trust, its chairman K. Suresh underscored the need to conduct the operation in a safe manner and without affecting the movement of other vessels. The rig-laden "Dockwise" ship required a draft of at least 19.6 metre, which is not available inside the harbour. Hence, it was waiting in the outer harbour.

Interesting information

A survey conducted for the ship in the last two days, however, has thrown up some interesting information about the draft near the entry channel. At many points it was found to be slightly over 21 metre, which exceeds earlier estimates. Mr. Suresh said the increase in the depth could have been a result of the December 2004 tsunami. "It [tsunami] must have washed away more sediments," he said.

Work to discharge the rig from the vessel began on Saturday, and it would floated to its destination on Sunday.

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