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4.3 Overview
Table 2 below illustrates the number of Jack-up and Semisubmersible rigs in the worldwide fleet and their
utilisation as at May 2008. On average the rigs have a high utilisation rate which denotes a high demand.
Coupled with high oil prices, the result has been the increased activity in new buildings of rigs, see “Section 7:
Newbuilding Rigs by Numbers”. Since the rigs are dependent on offshore vessels for their towage, supply of
cargo and personnel, construction and maintenance, the demand for modern offshore vessels will increase as
older vessels may not be capable or reliable enough to support these deep-water operations.
Table 2: Number of Jack-up and Semisubmersible rigs in worldwide fleet and their utilisation
Jack-ups Semisubmersibles
Working Total Utilisation Working Total Utilisation
May 2008 ................................. 340 371 91.6% 142 157 90.4%
April 2008 ................................. 336 370 90.8% 141 157 89.8%
March 2008 ................................ 342 368 92.9% 140 157 89.2%
February 2008 .............................. 336 366 91.8% 135 157 86.0%
January 2008 ............................... 333 365 91.2% 135 156 86.5%
December 2007 ............................. 332 362 91.7% 136 155 87.7%
Source: RIGZONE website — http://www.rigzone.com
5.0 Geographical Exploration Areas
With the demand for energy rising constantly and reserves in existing fields starting to dwindle,
exploration for oil and gas is continually carried out worldwide, from Alaska to Australia, in every possible
corner of the globe. As a result, exploration has been taken out from continental shelves, venturing further out
into deep-water and previously unexplored regions.
The type of vessel required to support the offshore exploration of oil and gas is dependent on the types of
rigs that are used for such exploration in different parts of the world. Generally, AHTS vessels are needed
across the world to support exploration activities. PSVs tend to be employed in the North Sea, Brazil, West
Africa, India and in some cases, Australia. Crew boats are primarily used in the U.S. Gulf, Arabian Gulf and
West Africa. Standby Safety vessels are mainly found in the North Sea due to regulatory requirements, whilst
tugs and barges are utilised worldwide.
Rigs are used worldwide and Graph 3 below illustrates the breakdown of rigs in each geographical area.
Graph 3: Number of rigs according to geographical area at March 2008 and under construction
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Northern Europe
North America
South America
West Africa
Mediterranean
Middle East
The Caspian
Southern Asia
South East Asia
Far East
Australia
JU now JU under construction SS now SS under construction
Source: RIGZONE website — http://www.rigzone.com
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