Abstract: The invention relates to a rig assembly for use in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. In an embodiment of the invention, a rig assembly (12) for a drill ship (10) is disclosed. The rig assembly (12) comprises a rig floor receiving area (14); a plurality of movable rig floor units (18, 20, 22 and 24), each rig floor unit (18, 20, 22 and 24) configured for location in the rig floor receiving area (14), to thereby define a rig floor of the rig assembly (12); and a transporter (26) configured to receive any one of the rig floor units (18, 20, 22 and 24), for transporting a selected one of the rig floor units (18, 20, 22 and 24) from a storage area (28) to the rig floor receiving area (14).

Abstract: There is disclosed an actuator for delivering a supplementary force to the piston of a shear ram in a blowout preventer (BOP), and a corresponding BOP. In one embodiment, a supplementary force actuator (12) is disclosed for use on a hydraulic ram (10), the actuator comprising an actuator body (30) connected to the hydraulic ram; first and second chambers (38, 36) located in the body, the chambers isolated from each other by an actuator piston (46); a rod (42) connected to an operating piston (24) of the hydraulic ram, passing through the first chamber and the actuator piston, and extending into at least a portion of the second chamber; wherein the actuator piston is releasably engageable to the rod by gripping means (48); and wherein the hydraulic ram is operated by a force from movement of the operating piston and by a supplementary force from movement of the actuator piston.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tubing support assembly for supporting tubing utilised in the oil and gas exploration and production industry, a vessel including such a tubing support assembly, and a method of deploying such tubing from a vessel. In one embodiment, a tubing support assembly (12) is disclosed which includes a tubing support in the form of a tension frame (20) that receives and supports tubing such as a casing riser (14) to be deployed from a drillship (10). The tension frame (20) is movable relative to a deck (22) of the drillship (10) and can be located below a level of the deck (22), to facilitate deployment of the tubing (14) from the drillship (10) to a seabed (37).