Containers for Exploration and Drilling — Sale, Rental and Fit-Out
Discover our shipping container solutions dedicated to the exploration and drilling sector. Meet DNV standards with National Conteneur.
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Logistics and storage for exploration and drilling: the advantage of shipping containers
Exploration and drilling take place in extreme environments. You work at sea (offshore) or in scorching deserts (onshore). You need to protect your ultra-sensitive equipment. Climate conditions are extremely harsh. The shipping container is the safest solution in the world. It withstands everything. It allows you to transport your scientific equipment safely to your most remote drilling sites.
- €4.2 BnFrench oilfield services market in 2024 (exploration + services)
- < 48 hStandard mobilization time for a DNV-certified offshore container
- > 95 %Required compliance rate for DNV 2.7-1 inspection in offshore service
- 2 600Active platforms worldwide requiring containerized equipment
Container uses in exploration and drilling
Exploration and drilling operations impose extreme logistics: isolated offshore platforms, desert onshore sites, rotation of heavy equipment under strict regulatory constraints. The DNV-certified shipping container becomes the base unit of any temporary infrastructure, from the core sample laboratory to the ROV hangar, including air-conditioned survival shelters.
Industry constraints
How containers meet the requirements of drilling
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Strength and security (Corten steel)
Drilling sites face corrosion, sand, wind, and massive waves. Our containers are made of very thick Corten steel. They withstand aggressive sea air. They handle the worst weather conditions without ever weakening.
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Flexibility and modularity (rapid deployment)
Your geological exploration projects sometimes last only a few months. The container is mobile. It sets down quickly on your onshore site or on the deck of your vessel. It leaves immediately for another site once the mission is over.
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Compliance (adherence to industry standards)
Our modules adapt to the extreme safety rules of the drilling industry. We supply certified containers with slings for offshore lifting. We adapt them electrically for high explosion-risk zones.
The most commonly used container types in exploration and drilling
The formats selected meet the sector's mechanical and regulatory requirements: the DNV 2.7-1 certified offshore container withstands crane lifting at sea, while the open top, hard top and half-height models make it easy to load oversized equipment or drill cores without dismantling. These geometries are designed to be stacked, secured and inspected quickly in ATEX zones.
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Offshore container (DNV 2.7-1 certified)
This is the mandatory module for open sea use. It is heavily reinforced. It withstands violent lifting from a moving vessel. It has specific steel slings. It is craned safely onto a wind-swept platform.
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Laboratory container (fitted out)
This container is fully modified by our technical design office. We add excellent fire-rated thermal insulation. We install washable flooring and work benches. It is the essential field tool for geologists.
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Open Top or hard top container
This model opens completely from the top. It has a tarpaulin or a heavy removable steel roof. It is perfect for the drilling sector. You can load very long metal drill rods directly into it with a port crane.
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Half-height container
It is half the height of a standard container. It has no roof. It is used to transport giant marine chains. It also carries heavy, dirty and low-fragility equipment to the oil platform.
Standards
Exploration and drilling standards and regulations to comply with
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The DNV 2.7-1 and EN 12079 standard
This is the mandatory global certification for sending a container to sea. It guarantees that the structure will never break during violent dynamic lifting.
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Magnetic particle inspection (MPI)
The lifting points of offshore containers are tested. This detects invisible micro-cracks. It is mandatory every year.
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The ATEX directive (Explosive Atmospheres)
Gases extracted from wells can explode. We equip our laboratory containers with fully spark-proof electrical installations.
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The Environmental Code
To store highly chemical drilling mud, our containers with a containment sump are mandatory. They prevent any pollution of desert soil or oceans.
FAQ
FAQ: your questions about containers and exploration & drilling
Find answers to the most common questions about our containers and services.
What exactly is a DNV 2.7-1 container?
It is a container specially designed for the offshore environment. Its structure is tested to withstand intense impacts. It is equipped with specific welded lifting points. It can be handled by cranes in the middle of a sea storm.
Can a fitted-out container be installed in an explosive zone (ATEX)?
Yes. Our design office can fit out a container to adapt it for an ATEX zone. We use armored cables. We install sealed switches. The special ventilation produces absolutely no sparks.
How to safely transport very long drill rods?
For very long rods, the Open Top container is ideal. The roof comes off completely. You place your heavy bundles of rods inside with a crane. They are thus very well protected during the sea or land journey.
How thick is the steel of an offshore container?
An offshore container uses steel that is much thicker than a standard ISO container. Its main beams are reinforced. Its empty weight (tare) is therefore significantly higher to guarantee its strength at sea.
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