Rig workers evacuated following issue on Noble jack-up

Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation has evacuated all rig personnel after an issue was found on one of the legs of a Noble Corporation-owned jack-up rig.

Noble disclosed late on Friday, 16 December 2022 that the Noble Regina Allen jack-up rig had experienced a mechanical issue on Thursday, 15 December 2022 while preparing to move from its location approximately 26 miles off the coast of Trinidad.

The offshore drilling contractor explains that technical failure in the jacking gear appears to have caused damage to the bow leg braces and joints, preventing the rig from being able to fully retract one of its legs. Therefore, as the structural integrity of the leg is compromised, all rig personnel have been evacuated after confirming watertight integrity, highlights Noble.

The 2013-built rig has been working for an undisclosed operator in Trinidad and Tobago since August 2022. This contract, which is scheduled to end in September 2023, is for six firm wells plus three two-well options with a day rate of $107,000.

According to Noble, the rig completed all well operations before the event occurred, thus, the well is secure. The company underlines that it is “working closely with our customer and local authorities in response to the incident.”

The Noble Regina Allen jack-up rig is of Friede & Goldman JU3000N design. It was constructed at Jurong Shipyard and can accommodate 150 people. With a drilling depth capability of 35,000 feet, this rig is capable of operating in water depths of up to 400 ft.

When it comes to Noble’s recent deals, it is worth noting that the offshore drilling contractor secured a long-term contract for one of its jack-up rigs with BP earlier this month.

The oil major hired this jack-up rig for drilling and plugging and abandonment services in the UK North Sea.

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