Rig briefs: Atwood orders new drillship, KCA Deutag wins new contracts

Atwood orders ultra-deepwater drillship for 2015 delivery

The newly ordered Atwood Archer will be identical in design to the Atwood Achiever (rendering pictured). DSME is scheduled to deliver the Atwood Achiever ultra-deepwater drillship by 31 December 2015.

An Atwood Oceanics subsidiary has entered into a turnkey construction contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) to construct a fourth ultra-deepwater drillship to be named the Atwood Archer. Delivery is anticipated by 31 December 2015 at a total cost of $635 million. The rig will feature two blowout preventers and will be identical in design to the previously ordered Atwood Advantage, Atwood Achiever and Atwood Admiral. All four drillships are DP-3 with dual derricks and will be rated to operate in water depths up to 12,000 ft and drill wells to 40,000 ft.

Upon delivery, the Atwood Archer will become the company’s 17th mobile offshore drilling unit.

Further, the company has secured an option to construct a fifth ultra-deepwater drillship at a similar cost to the Atwood Archer and with an expected delivery in September 2016. This option must be exercised by 31 March 2014.

KCA Deutag secures work in Myanmar, Gabon

KCA Deutag has been awarded two offshore contracts for work in Southeast Asia and Gabon. The first is a two-year operating and maintenance drilling services contract for the Shwe Platform based in Myanmar with Daewoo International. The second contract, with Tullow Oil Gabon, is for the provision of KCA Deutag’s Ben Rinnes jackup. The contract scope is for two wells, and there is an option for an additional well. Work will commence in July, operating for 80 days.

“The West African market continues to be a major hub of activity for the oil and gas industry and one where we have an established presence. Establishing new relationships in countries such as Gabon demonstrates how vibrant this area continues to be,” Rune Lorentzen, president of offshore at KCA Deutag, said.

“This contract with Daewoo International Corporation is our second contract in Myanmar and strengthens our position in the region. With existing projects under way and a number of further opportunities identified, we are in a good position to continue to develop KCA Deutag in an emerging market which offers extensive oil and gas potential,” he continued.

View the original article here

Seadrill orders two high-spec jackups for delivery in 2015 and 2016

Posted on 20 June 2013

Seadrill Limited has entered into contracts for the construction of two high-specification jackups at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Offshore (DSIC Offshore) in China. The newbuild rigs are scheduled for delivery during Q4 2015 and Q1 2016. The total project price per rig is approximately US $230 million, including project management, capitalized interest, drilling and handling tools, spares and operation preparations, with tail-heavy payment terms.

The two new units will be based on the F&G JU2000E design, with water depth capacity of 400 ft and drilling depth of 30,000 ft. Seadrill now has eight jackups in total under construction at DSIC Offshore of which two are scheduled for delivery in 2013, five in 2015 and one in 2016.

“These two additional orders highlight our commitment to growing our high-specification jackup fleet.  The jackup market has traditionally been a shorter-term market; however, we expect longer-term contracts to be executed going forward.  In addition to increased terms, we expect to see rising dayrates as attrition accelerates amongst an aging global fleet,” Fredrik Halvorsen, CEO of Seadrill Management, said. “These two new orders will increase Seadrill’s jackup fleet to 29 units and strengthen our position as the largest operator of modern high specification drilling units.”

View the original article here

Ensco orders its eighth Samsung DP3 ultra-deepwater drillship

Ensco has ordered an additional advanced-capability DP3 ultra-deepwater drillship based on the Samsung GF12000 hull design. The vessel, ENSCO DS-10, will be the eighth Samsung DP3 drillship in the Ensco fleet. It will be built at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea, with delivery scheduled for Q3 2015. The agreement includes an option for an additional drillship of the same design.

Measuring 755 ft in length and 125 ft in width, ENSCO DS-10 will offer a 1,250-ton hoisting system with enhanced offline capability. Like ENSCO DS-8 and ENSCO DS-9, the new unit will have advanced capabilities to meet the demands of ultra-deepwater drilling in water depths up to 12,000 ft and a total vertical drilling depth of 40,000 ft. It will be initially outfitted to work in water depths up to 10,000 ft. Including commissioning, systems integration testing, project management and tubulars, the construction cost is expected to be approximately $625 million.

ENSCO DS-8 and ENSCO DS-9, also based on the GF12000 hull design, are scheduled for delivery in 2014. Ensco is currently the only drilling contractor offering the advanced features of the GF12000 hull design. Features of the drillship include: retractable thrusters; enhanced safety and environmental features; improved dynamic positioning capabilities; and advanced drilling and completion functionality, including below-main-deck riser storage, triple fluid systems and offline conditioning capability. The drillship also incorporates enhanced client and third-party facilities with living quarters for up to 200 personnel.

A 165-ton active heave compensating construction crane allows for deployment of subsea production equipment without interference with ongoing drilling operations. ENSCO DS-10 includes a 15,000-psi subsea well control system with seven rams and can accommodate a second BOP stack.

“We continue to see very strong demand for rigs in existing deepwater markets, along with growing demand from emerging exploration areas. Operators are also showing high interest in this iteration of the Samsung DP3 drillship, due to its advanced design and capabilities that improve drilling productivity and fuel efficiency – two key factors that affect the operator’s project costs,” said Ensco chairman, president and CEO Dan Rabun.

Ensco’s four active DP3 drillships are currently working in the US Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and West Africa. Three are contracted into 2016, and the fourth is contracted into 2018. A fifth drillship, ENSCO DS-7, scheduled for delivery later in 2013, is contracted to Total into 2016.

View the original article here

Ensco orders sixth ultra-deepwater drillship to meet customer demands

Responding to the high level of customer demand driven by a trend of successful offshore discoveries, Ensco has ordered an advanced-capability, ultra-deepwater drillship to be built by Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje, South Korea.

The vessel, ENSCO DS-8, will be the sixth Samsung DP3 drillship in the Ensco fleet.  It is scheduled for delivery in the Q3 2014. The contract also includes options for two additional drillships of the same design.

Consistent with the previous five Samsung ultra-deepwater drillships ordered since 2007, the new unit will have advanced capabilities to meet the demands of ultra-deepwater drilling in water depths up to 12,000 ft and a total vertical drilling depth of 40,000 ft. New features on ENSCO DS-8 include retractable thrusters, enhanced safety and environmental features, improved dynamic positioning capabilities and advanced drilling and completion functionality including below-main-deck riser storage, triple fluid systems, offline conditioning capability and enhanced client and third-party facilities.

“An ongoing trend of new deepwater oil and gas discoveries around the globe is creating a high demand for equipment capable of tapping those resources,” Ensco Chairman, President and CEO Dan Rabun, said.

The new drillship is based on the proprietary Samsung GF12000 hull design measuring 755 ft in length and 125 ft in width. It will offer a payload in excess of 22,000 tons and a 1,250-ton hoisting system. The rig’s design and capabilities include features that increase operating efficiency, such as enhanced and redundant offline tubular stand building features and a 165-ton active heave compensating construction crane, allowing for the deployment of subsea production equipment without interference with ongoing drilling operations.

The rig will be equipped with dynamic positioning in compliance with DPS-3 certification; six-5.5 megawatt thrusters for enhanced station-keeping; expanded drilling fluids capacity; a 15,000-psi subsea well control system with six rams, upgradable to seven rams and/or a second BOP stack; burner boom for well testing; and living quarters for up to 200 personnel.

“This addition to our fleet is in keeping with our strategy of standardization, which streamlines construction, operations, inventory management, training, regulatory compliance, repairs and maintenance,” Mr Rabun said.

Ensco’s three active DP3 drillships are currently contracted into 2016 in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and West Africa. A fourth, ENSCO DS-6, is undergoing pre-commissioning modifications in preparation for its first well assignment under a five-year contract with BP. ENSCO DS-7 is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2013.

View the original article here