Sunken drilling rig "60th jubilee of Azerbaijan" endangers Kazakhstan

The self-elevating drilling rig "60th Jubilee of Azerbaijan", which sank near the Cape Rakushechnii in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea 30 years ago, endangers navigation safety, reported Kazakhstan Transport Prosecutors' Office.

"The sunken property, such as vessels, constructions and drilling rigs, in the Caspian Sea could endanger safety of navigation.

For instance, "60th Jubilee of Azerbaijan" drilling rig, which sank near the Cape Rakushechnii, endangers safety of navigation within a radius of 1 mile. Gas of unknown origin rises from the sea bottom in the area of the sunken drilling rig," reported Kazakhstan's Transport Prosecutors' Office.

The accident occurred 23 km away from the Cape Rakushechnii, where the workers were drilling a well on the depth of 43 meters, in September 1983. The self-elevating drilling rig "60th Jubilee of Azerbaijan" collapsed, leaving the spouting gas fountain 50 meters high (with the drilling progress of 511 meters). In order to avoid the environment pollution, the rescuers burnt gas. The torch went out after five days, but the well started spouting again in 1991.

On September 12, 2012 while studying navigation and hydrographic situation in the Caspian shelf, Zhayik survey vessel found a gas-water fountain over 2 meters high on the place of the sunken drilling rig "60th Jubilee of Azerbaijan."

The drilling rig was studied by the divers in 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2005. It was concluded that "60th Jubilee of Azerbaijan" drilling rig has been seriously damaged and its repair and reconstruction is impossible. Lifting of the drilling rig was considered inadvisable, because of huge expenses. The drilling rig was written off the balance of the Caspmorneftegasprom company.---0--