China to conduct sea trials for first ultra-deepwater drilling ship

BEIJING: China will on Friday (Dec 22) conduct sea trials for its first ocean research drilling vessel, capable of drilling at depths of more than 10,000m (32,800 feet), a key step towards beefing up the country's deep-sea oil and gas exploration capabilities.

It is China's first vessel capable of ultra-deepwater research and drilling, Chinese state media reported on Monday. It can travel 15,000 nautical miles (27,780km) and operate for 120 consecutive days without returning to port. It can also drill as deep as 11,000 metres below sea level.