Nautilus breaks loose in Hurricane Rita
Posted: 26 September 2005
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The Deepwater Nautilus, an ultra-deep water semi-submersible drilling rig, owned by Transocean, broke its towline while attempting to run from Hurricane Rita.
According to Transocean spokesman, Guy Cantwell, of the 45 crewman that were aboard the rig, the final 14 were safely evacuated.
Prior to Hurricane Rita's entrance into the Gulf of Mexico , the rig was  undergoing repairs to its mooring system at West Cameron Block 121, approximately 30 miles south of Cameron , Louisiana .
The rig was under tow to safer waters heading east when the rig towing bridle broke in heavy Hurricane Rita winds and seas.
This is not the first time the Deepwater Nautilus has been on the losing end of encounters with powerful Gulf of Mexico hurricanes. In September last year Hurricane Ivan tore the rig from its Shell offshore location, 160 miles south of Mobile , Alabama . The rig was later found slightly damaged some 70 miles from its original drilling location.
Three weeks ago Katrina sent the rig on another unplanned and unmanned 80 mile voyage leaving rig mooring lines, anchors and 3,200 feet of marine riser pipe on the ocean floor.
The Deepwater Nautilus is a conventionally moored propulsion assist rig rated for water depths up to 8,000 feet. Shell Offshore currently has the rig under long term contract at a $195,100 per day charter rate.
∙ The Gulf Coast of Texas and western Louisiana hit by Rita included 19 refineries whose processing capability is 26 per cent of the US total. Three of the five largest US refineries are in the region. On Saturday, the day that Rita struck the coast, 100 per cent of the daily oil production in the Gulf of Mexico of 1.5 million barrels a day was shut down.
Posted by Editor Pipeline Magazine
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