CIMC's Blue Whale II rig can operate in 12,000 ft of water
Shipyard builder CIMC Raffles has initiated final sea trials for the ultra-deepwater drilling rig, the Blue Whale II, due to be launched in late 2017. The first rig in the series, the Blue Whale I, was completed in February this year, and both rigs can operate in 12,000 ft of water, and are able to drill to a depth of 50,000 ft. The rigs were designed using the Frigstad D90 design as a base, and are equipped with a dynamic positioning 3 system. Frigstad Offshore had ordered the rigs initially, but the builds were sold to a CIMC subsidiary in 2016. Blue Whale I has been used in the South China Sea for the China National Petroleum Corporation, drilling for methane hydrate in its first deepwater well.
CIMC Raffles started the final series of sea trials for the ultra-deepwater drilling rig Blue Whale II in preparation for its delivery later this year.

Together with its award-winning sister rig Blue Whale I, which was completed in February, the two rigs are among the most advanced offshore drilling rigs in the world – designed to operate in 12,000 feet of water and drill to a depth of 50,000 feet.

The rigs were constructed based on the Frigstad D90 design and are equipped with a dynamic positioning 3 system.

They were originally ordered by Frigstad Offshore, but in 2016 the company decided to sell the newbuilds to a subsidiary of CIMC amid the prolonged downturn in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Blue Whale I recently finished drilling its first successful deep-water well for methane hydrate in the South China Sea on behalf of China National Petroleum Corporation.