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DK1 rigs

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DK1 rigs

The DK1 rigs are a collection of about two dozen "economic, scientific and technological service stations" established by Vietnam and located in the southern Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The rigs are complex of structures of large steel pipes, and above the steel pipes are living space for Vietnamese soldiers.

Contents

Background

In response to the PRC's expansion into the South China Sea (SCS), in the mid 1980s the Socialist Republic of Vietnam predicted the need for it to protect itself. This led to the planning of, and in 1989, establishment of, the first DK1 rig.

Rig locations

DK1 rigs have been established in seven localities on the continental shelf at:

  • Bãi cạn Tư Chính - Vanguard Bank
  • Bãi cạn Phúc Tần - Prince of Wales Bank
  • Bãi ngầm Ba Kè - Bombay Castle
  • Bãi cạn Phúc Nguyên - Prince Consort Bank
  • Bãi cạn Huyền Trân - Alexandra Bank
  • Bãi cạn Quế Đường - Grainger Bank
  • Bãi cạn Cà Mau - Off the coast of the Cà Mau peninsula - the southernmost piece of Vietnam

    • Rigs

    A total of 20 rigs have been built on the continental shelf in waters of depth from 7m (DK1/3) to 25m (DK1/15), from 1989 to 1998. Currently (2015) there are a total of 15 rigs in use. Facilities include 8 helicopter pads, 4 lighthouses, and a meteorological observatory. There are 14 rigs in the Spratly Islands, and one (DK1/10) in Ca Mau Shoals off the southwest coast of Vietnam.

    Vanguard Bank

    The current (2015) cluster has 3 rigs in use.

  • DK1/1: Completed 27 June 1989, is the 3rd construction. Currently not used.
  • DK1/5: Completed 2 November 1989, is the 4th rig built. Currently not used.
  • DK1/11: Completed 5 May 1994.
  • DK1/12: Completed 8 August 1994.
  • DK1/14: Completed 20 April 1995.

    • Prince of Wales Bank

    The current (2015) cluster has 4 rigs in use.

  • DK1/3: Completed 15 June 1989, was the first rig completed. It collapsed on the night of 4 December 1990 during a heavy storm.
  • DK1/2: Completed 18 August 1993.
  • DK1/16: Completed 20 August 1996.
  • DK1/17: Completed 23 August 1996.
  • DK1/18: Completed 13 April 1997. This rig includes a lighthouse.

    • Bombay Castle

    The current (2015) cluster has 3 rigs in use.

  • DK1/4: Completed 16 June 1989, is the 2nd rig completed. It collapsed on the night of 4 December 1990 during a heavy storm.
  • DK1/9: Completed 22 August 1993.
  • DK1/20: Completed 13 August 1998.
  • DK1/21: Completed 19 August 1998. This rig includes a lighthouse.

    • Prince Consort Bank

    The current (2015) cluster has 1 rig in use.

  • DK1/6: Completed 10 November 1990, is the 5th frame completed. It collapsed on the night of 4 December 1990 during a heavy storm.
  • DK1/15: Completed in April 1995.
  • 2A/DK1/6: Was completed 17 April 1995 using the foundations of the old DK1/6 rig. It collapsed during a storm on 13 December 1998.

    • Alexandra Bank

    The current (2015) cluster has 1 rig in use.

  • DK1/7: Completed 11 November 1991. Includes a lighthouse and a meteorological observatory.

    • Grainger Bank

    The current (2015) cluster has 2 rigs in use.

  • DK1/8: Completed 4 November 1991. Includes a lighthouse.
  • DK1/19: Completed 10 April 1997.

    • Ca Mau Shoals

    The current (2015) cluster has 1 rig in use.

  • DK1/10: Completed in 1994.

    • References

    DK1 rigs Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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