The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) on Sept. 10 launched the first 90m water-depth jack-up drilling rig and the Moc Tinh oil rig at the Vung Tau Petroleum Port.

State President Truong Tan Sang joined leaders of ministries and agencies and representatives from the Russian Embassy and the Russian Consulate General in Vietnam at the launching ceremony, which was held on the occasion of the 50 th anniversary of PetroVietnam (Nov. 27).

The drilling rig is a key national mechanical project with PetroVietnam as the investor and PetroVietnam Marine Shipyard as the EPC contractor.

Vietnam has become one of the three countries in Asia and of ten nations worldwide to build jack-up drilling rig of international standards recognised by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS),

As one of national key projects, the Moc Tinh oil rig is designed and manufactured by Petroleum Equipment Assembly and Metal Structure JSC (PVC-MS). This is the largest oil platform in Vietnam with a total weight of over 14.000 tonnes.

At the ceremony, the Russian-Vietnamese oil and gas joint venture, Vietsovpetro, signed a contract with PV Shipyards, under which another 90m jack-up drilling rig will be built by the later. /.