ABL’s Rig Rundown | December 2025
Welcome to the ABL Rig Inspections Bulletin!
A regular series brought to you by ABL’s global rig inspection team. This series will explore the technical challenges, market trends, and key findings that our teams encounter in the field.
Expect a mix of real-world case studies, detailed findings, and practical insights drawn from our global operations.
The Role of Environmental Inspections in Offshore Rig Integrity
In today’s offshore energy landscape, environmental responsibility is more than a regulatory requirement, it’s a core component of operational excellence.
In this blog, Billy McBain, a seasoned Rig Inspector with over 14 years of experience, shares insights into the purpose, process, and value of Environmental Inspections in offshore drilling operations
✔️ Key Takeaways:
- Environmental inspections provide operators with assurance that environmental policies, procedures, and contingency plans are effective and compliant with industry regulations.
- Pre-inspection preparation and thorough onboard reviews enable inspectors to identify potential environmental risks before they escalate into costly incidents.
- Regular assessments of documentation, waste management, chemical handling, and emissions tracking help maintain strong environmental performance and operational integrity.
Findings from inspections drive continuous improvement, promoting a proactive culture of environmental responsibility across offshore operations.
These takeaways highlight the importance of proactive, data-driven environmental assurance in maintaining safe, compliant, and sustainable offshore operations.
Project Spotlights
ABL’s Rig Inspection team has been awarded a significant new scope of work to provide support with for a semi-submersible drilling rig as part of subsea wells plug and abandonment operations in a mature field offshore the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.
In the UK, ABL was engaged by an international oil & gas company to provide rig inspection and technical assurance for a drilling platform preparing for plug and abandonment (P&A) operations, with a focus on the drilling package, well control equipment, and associated mechanical, electrical, and control systems.
In South America, ABL was engaged by an international rig owner in South America to conduct a drilling rig reactivation, deploying multi-disciplined expertise across mechanical, electrical, subsea, and dynamic positioning systems to assess the asset’s condition and define the technical requirements for its safe return to full operational service.
Recent Global Leadership in Rig Inspection Services
As part of our commitment to delivering world class rig inspection services to clients across the globe, we are pleased to provide the following updates to our service line leadership within our Energy Services Team.
Stewart Gillies, an experienced drilling and marine control systems professional and rig inspection expert, will lead and expand our global rig inspection programs as Operations Manager.
With deep technical knowledge across all rig types, Stewart ensures consistent, high-quality services while enhancing ABL’s capabilities to address evolving industry risks.
ABL appoints Li Xiang as Regional Director for Asia-Pacific, leading rigs, jack-up, and geotechnical services.
With nearly 20 years of experience, including 15 years at ABL, Li has supported oil, gas, and renewable projects worldwide, overseeing 5,000+ rig moves and 500+ windfarm T&I and O&M approvals.