CSSC-HPS Announces New R-550D Jackup Rig Construction Start for Alliance Offshore Drilling

CSSC Guangzhou Huangpu Shipbuilding (CSSC-HPS) confirmed it is starting the construction of “two plus two” units of Jackup Drilling Rigs capable of operating in 400 Foot Water Depths, using the Zentech design and TSC integrated equipment packages.

Alliance Offshore Drilling PTE Ltd. of Singapore stated that it is the owner of the R-550D rigs under construction.

CSSC-HPS is a large-scale state owned company and member of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, with advanced ship design and manufacturing capabilities that have been proven since their construction of the “HUAHAI 1” drilling platform in 1984. More recent innovations include the 400 ton shallow water heavy lift and pipe-laying vessel, an engineering survey vessel for 3,000 meter water depths, and others which have resulted in CSSC-HPS becoming the major offshore specialty construction base in southern China.

CSSC-HPS has joined with TSC Group Holdings, Ltd., a Cayman Islands company and Zentech, Inc. of Houston, Texas to form a new business model for the design of the basic rig (Zentech), fully integrated drilling equipment and control package (TSC Offshore), and construction at the Huangpu Shipyard. The concept is centered on the patented Zentech R-550D, a high capacity and extended reach Jackup drilling rig, rated for 400 Ft. Water Depths. This design was recently approved by the Technical Appraisal Committee, comprised of a blue-ribbon panel of Chinese and international offshore drilling experts, and has also been granted ABS Class approval.