Chevron commences operations on "Discoverer Clear Leader"

The state-of-the-art vessel is capable of drilling wells in 3,650 meters of water to a total depth of 12,200 meters, surpassing the limits of previous technology. "The Discoverer Clear Leader offers the most-advanced drilling capabilities in the offshore drilling industry and will enable Chevron to expand the search for new domestic sources of energy," said George Kirkland, executive vice president, Upstream and Gas, Chevron.

"Discoverer Clear Leader" was built at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd., 65,573 gt, and is classified by Det Norske Veritas. She is the first of two new drillships to be commissioned for Chevron. The second vessel, the "Discoverer Inspiration", is expected to be delivered in early 2010.

The drillship features Transocean's patented dual-activity drilling technology designed to enable parallel drilling operations from a single derrick, saving time and money in deepwater well construction compared with conventional rigs.

Chevron has already established itself as a leader in drilling capabilities. The company holds the current world water-depth drilling record of 3,051 meters of water in the Gulf of Mexico, as it states. The drillship will begin work for Chevron at several of its deepwater projects, including Tahiti and Jack/St. Malo.