Recently, a project company under Shenzhen CIMC Offshore Investment Co., Ltd. (“CIMC Offshore Investment”)—the offshore asset operation and management platform of CIMC Group—officially signed a drilling services contract with the UK-based oil and gas producer Serica Energy (UK) Limited (“Serica”) for the sixth-generation, harsh-environment semi-submersible drilling rig “Beacon Pacific.” Following the completion of its reactivation and upgrades, the rig is scheduled to be deployed to UK waters for operations in the third quarter of 2027. The contract covers six firm wells, with options for additional wells.
Headquartered in London, Serica Energy is a leading independent upstream oil and gas operator in the UK and a key producer in the UK North Sea, with a diversified portfolio of oil and gas assets across the UK Continental Shelf.
Built by CIMC Raffles, “Beacon Pacific” is a harsh-environment semi-submersible drilling rig—the third sister unit in its series. It follows the successful deployment of the first unit, “Deepsea Yantai,” in Norway, marking the second rig from this series to enter the high-end Northwest European market. Furthermore, this unit represents the sixth harsh-environment semi-submersible drilling rig that CIMC has constructed and delivered for the North Sea market.
The platform measures 107 meters in length, 74 meters in breadth, and 42 meters in depth (to the main deck). It utilizes the advanced GM4D design and is equipped with a DP3 dynamic positioning system, an offline drilling system, and an active heave compensation system. Classified by DNV, the platform fully complies with the rigorous operational standards and regulatory requirements for the North Sea, including those of the United Kingdom and Norway.
For a long time, CIMC Offshore Investment has focused on the high-end international offshore asset operations sector, establishing stable, long-term partnerships with numerous global oil and gas operators and drilling service providers. Leveraging the practical experience gained from the robust, multi-year operation of the “Deepsea Yantai” in the Norwegian North Sea, the company has developed mature, full-lifecycle asset management capabilities for semi-submersible platforms.
CIMC Offshore Investment stated that the collaboration with Serica on the “Beacon Pacific” project marks a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to revitalize its existing high-end semi-submersible offshore assets and unlock their full value. This achievement underscores the company’s comprehensive, end-to-end capabilities—encompassing asset ownership, modification and reactivation, as well as operations and maintenance management.
Under the terms of this contractual arrangement, the internationally renowned drilling contractor Odfjell Drilling (ODL) will serve as the operator of the platform, overseeing the reactivation of Beacon Pacific as well as its subsequent drilling operations. Preparations for the platform’s reactivation are already underway. As the asset owner, CIMC Offshore Investment will continue to deepen its strategic partnership with ODL—a collaboration between two industry leaders—to consistently provide international clients with safe, efficient, and high-quality drilling services.