Record Well Depth For Floating Drilling Rig Set By ODECO's 'Ocean Rover'

The semisubmersible rig Ocean Rover has set new world records for drilling the deepest offshore well and running the longest and heaviest casing string from a floating structure.

Owned by Ocean Drilling & Exploration Company (ODECO) of New Orleans, the rig achieved the records while drilling for Chevron U.S.A., Inc. in Destin Dome Block 422 in the Gulf of Mexico, about 60 miles west southwest of Panama City, Fla. The well was drilled to a depth of 22,222 feet, which surpassed the previous offshore record well depth of 21,872 feet drilled by ODECO's Ocean Victory in 1977 on Georges Bank offshore New England.

A record 19,260 feet of 9-5/8 and 10-inch casing string was run and landed into the Destin Dome well.

Indicator weight of the tapered casing string was 1,050,000 pounds.

Since a major upgrading in June of last year, the Rover has met its most challenging drilling assignments with great success. The upgrading prepared the rig for the high pressures that were expected as it drilled to its targeted depth.

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