Imperial Oil Planning Semisub Drilling Rig With 6,000-Foot Capability

Plans for a semisubmersible offshore drilling unit capable of drilling in waters up to 6,000 feet deep are being finalized by Imperial Oil Ltd., a subsidiary of Esso Resources, Canada, Ltd. The rig will be used for a multiwell d r i l l i n g program off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. According to a company spokesman, the objective is to insure as much Canadian input as possible on the design, construction, ownership, and operation of the rig.

At this stage of development, Imperial is looking at the possibility of having an international consortium involved in the rig's construction, and is evaluating design proposals. It is anticipated that all the details involving the rig will be completed by early 1982.

The semisubmersible will be similar to the dynamically positioned Sedco 709, but incorporating larger deck space. The target date for completion of the rig is mid-1983.