Lower Marine Riser Package Lost by Diamond Offshore Semi-Submersible Ocean GreatWhite

Diamond Offshore Drilling, an offshore drilling company, experienced an equipment failure on its semi-submersible platform, Ocean GreatWhite, in the United Kingdom. The incident took place on February 1, 2024, during a contract with BP about 200 km west of the Shetland Islands. The malfunction involved the rig’s Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP), which detached from the rig and fell to the seabed due to inclement weather, making it disconnected from the blowout preventer (BOP) at the well.

The LMRP is an important safety component of an oil rig’s blowout preventer system and the Ocean GreatWhite, one of the largest ultra-deep water semi-submersibles in the world, was not involved in drilling operations at the time of the incident. Diamond Offshore confirmed that there were no injuries, the rig’s structure was maintained, and the well remained safe, with no damage to seabed infrastructure.

The company is currently working with BP and local authorities to manage the incident, with equipment recovery efforts underway and damaged equipment being replaced. However, the financial impact is still uncertain, but Diamond Offshore has insurance coverage for property damage. The Ocean GreatWhite is a 6th generation semi-submersible rig capable of drilling up to 35,000 feet and operating in water depths of up to 10,000 feet.

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