Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE)

Aban Pearl

From BOE Europe Chief Odd Finnestad: All 95 workers are safe, says President Hugo Chávez.  The rig was previously named named Bulford Dolphin and owned by Fred. Olsen (Norwegian rig owner) who sold it in 2007 when it was 30 years old.  The rig started to take in water and capsized during the night.  The workers were evacuated and two navy crafts are now patrolling the area.

Odd has done more research and has provided the following additional information:

The rig is currently owned by Aban Singapore Pte. Ltd. Aban Singapore (ASPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aban Offshore Ltd, an Indian company. The rig’s previous names were Bulford Dolphin (Fred Olsen Energy) and Treasure Seeker (Wilh. Whilhelmsen).  In 1975, Treasure Hunter, the first oil drilling rig was delivered to WW, followed by Treasure Seeker and Treasure Finder in the next two years. After a difficult start, the drilling rigs were secured on profitable long-term contracts with the oil companies, paving the way for the ordering, chartering and acquisition of still larger and more advanced rigs, culminating with Polar Pioneer from 1985 – one of the world’s most advanced rig for drilling in inhospitable waters. The WW offshore activities, however,  were gradually phased out towards the end of the decade.