CIMC Raffles and Italian offshore leader Saipem signed a contract to convert a semi-submersible drilling rig into an FPU.
This is another area of cooperation between the two parties following the signature of two jack-up drilling rig leasing contracts in 2022.

It is also the first order in the world to convert a semi drilling rig to an FPU undertaken by CIMC Raffles, which is an important milestone in the offshore oil&gas industry and at the same time, it marks a new breakthrough in the Oil&Gas Projects of CIMC Raffles.

The donor vessel is a fourth-generation semi-submersible drilling platform, with maximum operating water depth of 2,000 meters and a maximum drilling depth of 9,000 meters.

The main conversion activities are to dismantle all of the drilling system, repair & refurnish the marine system, implementing brand new topside process modules and convert it into a proper offshore oil and gas floating production unit that will be installed and commissioned in a Congo Offshore Field, .

CIMC Raffles and Saipem have a long cooperation history.

In the early 2005, CIMC raffles bagged one ultra-deep water drilling platforms and one world largest pipe lay vessels. Later on, the two companies shuck hands again in 2022 by successively signing leasing contracts on a 300ft and a 400ft jack-up drilling rigs. CIMC Raffles highly appreciates and thanks the Saipem team for the previous various cooperation, and also looks forward to cooperating in more areas.

Based on solid foundations of the past, the cooperation areas of the two parties have expanded from drilling platform and asset operation to the oil and gas production unit. CIMS foresees that the cooperation will continue to expand, and that the relationship between the two parties will continue to strengthen.

It is worth noting that this will also be the first project in the world to convert a drilling platform into an oil and gas production unit by CIMC Raffles, which gives a great demonstration and has leading effect on the conversion of semi rigs around the world.

"CIMC Raffles has accumulated rich experiences in the design and construction of deepwater drilling platforms over the past years and is a well-deserved expert in this field. At the same time, we continue to position and expand the oil and gas production unit business, and establish the EPC total contract capacity from hull construction, topside module construction, all the way to commissioning. CIMC raffles have a solid delivery history. We are confident that we can deliver another quality project for our old friend Saipem, providing efficient and safe equipment for the production of  oil and gas fields in the waters of the Congo." Relevant person in charge of CIMC Raffles said.