The procedure is a set of rigorous tests completed by company representatives providing independent real-time QC offshore checks developed by Apache's Craig Duncan and Thales' Anthony Kerr.

The responsibility of 3rd party quality control representatives is now placed amongst individual members of the two operating companies. It is envisioned that the increase in responsibility level will encourage rig-positioning operations to be performed more efficiently.

The companies said they looked forward to reaping immediate benefits with the new working relationship.