A giant of the oil industry arrived in the Cromarty Firth at the weekend awaiting its next arduous task in the harsh waters of the North Sea.
But unlike other rigs which are filling up the deep water harbour due to the depressed price of oil, the West Phoenix rig, will rise into life again next March.
Phoenix, which dwarfs the other structures berthed near Invergordon in Easter Ross has spent the last 4 years working north west of Shetland.
But it is not viable for the semi submersible to spend the winter out there as the weather at that time and that far north can be severe, even for a structure standing 275 feet tall and 250feet wide and weighing 35,569 tonnes.
Built in South Korea in 2008, it is the biggest rig to ever be in the Cromarty Firth and has also taken the last anchor point in the firth. It can drill to a depth of 30,000 feet.
The owners of the rig, North Atlantic Drilling have been awarded a contract extension by Total E&P UK.
But the extension does not become effective mid-March 2016 and will secure work for the rig through to the end of August 2016
According to North Atlantic Drilling, the total revenue potential for the contract extension is approximately $62 million.
However a portion of the revenue will be paid during the currently idle period in the Cromarty Firth.
Bob Buskie, CEO for Port of Cromarty Firth said: “We currently have 12 rigs anchored in the Cromarty Firth, with capacity to accommodate at least a further 6.
"The West Phoenix is the largest rig at circa 35,500 gross tonnes. The persistent depression in oil price has caused great uncertainty within the North Sea Oil and Gas sector and the demand for exploration, appraisal and work over drilling has diminished considerably resulting in a significant lay up of oil and gas drilling rigs across the North Sea.
"The safe sheltered deep water anchorages within the Cromarty Firth play a significant role when the market is in such a situation.”
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