Discoverer Enterprise

Discoverer Enterprise in the foreground on May 26, 2010, directly over the blowout preventer during the top kill procedure in the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
History
Name:	Discoverer Enterprise
Owner:	Triton Asset Leasing GmbH
Operator:	Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc.
Port of registry:	Marshall Islands, Majuro
Builder:	Astilleros y Talleres del Noroeste (ASTANO) Ferrol, Spain
Laid down:	14 March 1997
Launched:	1 August 1998
Completed:	1999
Identification:	Call sign: V7HD2 DNV ID: 19643 IMO number: 9186792 MMSI no.: 538002215
Status:	Operational
Notes:
General characteristics
Type:	DNV 1A1 Ship-shaped Drilling Unit Storage Unit HELDK CRANE E0 DYNPOS-AUTR
Tonnage:	69,500 DWT; 63,190 GRT
Length:	254.4 m (835 ft)
Beam:	38.05 m (124.8 ft)
Draught:	13 m (43 ft)
Propulsion:	6 × Cegelec 5500kw, 1260vac 6 × AC Aquamaster 7000hp thrusters
Capacity:	Liquid Mud: 2,447 m3 (86,400 cu ft) Drill Water: 2,177 m3 (76,900 cu ft) Potable Water: 794 m3 (28,000 cu ft) Fuel Oil: 3,972 m3 (140,300 cu ft) Bulk Mud: 453 m3 (16,000 cu ft) Bulk Cement: 453 m3 (16,000 cu ft)
Crew:	> 200
Notes:

Discoverer Enterprise is a fifth generation deepwater double hulled dynamically positioned drillship (Astano FPSO design) owned and operated by Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc., capable of operating in moderate environments and water depths up to 3,049 m (10,000 ft) using an 18.75 in (47.6 cm), 15,000 psi blowout preventer (BOP), and a 21 in (53 cm) outside diameter (OD) marine riser. From 1998 to 2005 the vessel was Panama-flagged and currently flies the flag of convenience of the Marshall Islands.

Discoverer Enterprise has two sister ships, Discoverer Spirit completed in 1999, and Discoverer Deep Seas completed in 2000.

The ship was the first to offer a dual drilling derrick capability. The dual derricks allowed simultaneous operations to be performed, and according to Transocean increased efficiency by 40 percent.

The US$360 million ship gives its name to the Enterprise Class of large deepwater drillships.

The ship operates in the Gulf of Mexico under contract to BP. The drilling vessel has equipment that allow it to process hydrocarbons, and is capable of handling up to 15,000 barrels per day (2,400 m³/d). On June 3, 2010, several weeks after the explosion of Deepwater Horizon, Discoverer Enterprise was used to collect oil and gas from the damaged subsea wellhead by lowering a cap connected via a drilling riser over the release, and collecting oil and gas.