Oil Rig Photos

Thanks Nigel, I think you mean the crane pedestal rather than gantry. I'd imagine the cranes are being serviced, tested and painted on the ground, then reinstated rather than replaced. Testing the booms for cracks is an awkward job with the crane in the air, especially since there are bound to be flaws which will need welded. When I've done such testing in the past I've been amazed at how many of the welds in a boom are cracked yet the crane still does it's job.

Added by Garve Scott-Lodge on 01 August 2009.

Nigel, I think you'll find that the rig is called Kan Tan IV. It is curently being managed by Maersk Drilling and will resume its charter with Australian Drilling Associates (ADA) off Australia once repairs are complete.
{Editor note: thanks Carina, name changed}

Added by Carina Notenbaert on 04 August 2009.

I had been on two refits on this old lady.
She used to be called Western Pacetter IV, when wholly owned by the Western Company of America. That company got into some financial problems, when they put all their eggs into the one basket of a Cement Ship.
WPIV was sold for a paltry 11 million US dollars on the open market in Edinburgh, Scotland to the Chinese Government and operated by The Drilling Company of Shanghai.

Added by Jean Bee on 26 June 2010.

I worked on the Kan Tan IV during this yard stay. The whole cranes were replaced booms and all, with the new pedestals being welded to the old ones. There were many, many problems with them. I believe it is drilling in NZ now.

Added by Paul McConville on 27 June 2010.

Yes it is drilling in Tasman Bay NZ, in the pristine fishing waters 18 km off D'Urville. Lets hope there is no oil there!

Added by Martyn Barlow on 16 August 2010.

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