Offshore staff
SHARJAH, UAE-- Fabricator Lamprell says the number of stacked jackup drillings rigs has remained high throughout 2010, with drilling contractors uncertain as to when the market will pick up.
According to the company’s first-half results review, operators seem to prefer premium high-capacity rigs built since 2000, and these are the rigs that continue to secure contracts.
The company also sees opportunities to win further contracts for newbuild rigs, mainly from national oil companies.
As for rig refurbishment, the high number of stacked units has generated higher volumes of work for Lamprell in this sector than in previous years, although average expenditure for programs remains low. So far in 2010, the company’s UAE facilities have worked on 30 jackups, split between 13 at the Sharjah yard and 17 at its new Hamiryah facility.
Hamriyah has fabricated and installed new legs for the Noble David Tinsley for Noble International, and is about to complete a living quarter extension and condition-driven refurbishment for the Rowan California for RDC Arabia Drilling.
Earlier this year, Lamprell delivered the newbuild Offshore Mischief to Scorpion Rigs, The LeTourneau design S116E jackup rig recently started an assignment for Anadarko offshore Brazil.
Earlier this month, construction started at the company’s new Hamriyah facility of the first of two new Le Tourneau Super 116E Class jackups, awarded by National Drilling Co., Abu Dhabi under a $330-milion contract. The rigs are due to be delivered during spring and summer 2012.
NDC also issued options for Lamprell to build two further jackups for the same contract value, exercisable during the 12 months starting Aug. 1.
Both rigs will feature triangular hulls with three 310-ft (94-m) truss type legs per rig. Each leg will incorporate an electro-mechanical rack and pinion elevating system, which should allow drilling in water depths of up to 200 ft (61 m), with a rated drilling depth of 30,000 ft (9,155 m).
Otherwise, construction continues of the new 250,000-sq m (2.7-million sq ft) facility in Hamriyah Free Zone, with the second phase due for completion early next year. This yard will be suitable for refurbishment and construction of semisubmersible drilling rigs, and refurbishment of drillships.
Recently, Lamprell won a $39-million contract from an unnamed contractor to build an offshore topside structure comprising a two-level utility deck and five-level accommodation module for 38 personnel. The consignment will be constructed to North Sea standards, and should be delivered alongside the Jebel Ali quay early in Q1 2012.
Lamprell is designing and constructing two wellhead platforms for the North Tapti gas field development offshore India, with Swiber responsible for the transportation and installation.
The well head platforms, NTP-1 and NTP-2, each comprise a jacket, topside, and piles, with a total load out weight in each case of over 2,000 metric tons (2,204 tons). Construction started at Jebel Ali this spring and the platforms should be delivered to Swiber late this year.
08/23/2010
