Diamond Offshore reports on status of rigs following Hurricane Rita
  by: OilOnline
  Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. has reported that the drilling rigs Ocean Saratoga and Ocean Star broke free from their moorings as Hurricane Rita passed west of both semisubmersibles. Both of the units and their well operations were secured and personnel were evacuated well in advance of the storm.

Both rigs were tracked during the storm by onboard locator beacons. The Saratoga is currently grounded in approximately 35 feet of water on Vermilion block 111. The site is approximately 100 miles northwest of the rig's original location on Green Canyon block 157. The Star is also aground in approximately 35 feet of water on Eugene Island block 142. The site is approximately 100 miles north of the unit's original location on Green Canyon block 768. Start-up crews re-boarded the Saratoga and Star on Sunday in order to secure the units and to further assess their condition.

Initial fly-bys of other Company rigs in the path of Hurricane Rita have not indicated any significant damage. However, Diamond Offshore will not be able to make a complete assessment of the condition of all of its rigs until personnel are able to re-board the units over the next few days.