Jaime Kammerzell - Special Correspondent
The semisubmersible and drilling rig count is growing. A record number of newbuilds are expected to flood the market from 2007 to 2010. The surveyOffshore conducted highlights 28 of these rigs, some of which are under construction. The continued worldwide emphasis on oil and gas drilling in ultra deepwater is driving the demand for these newbuild rigs, which are equipped with the latest technology capable of drilling in new frontiers.
Offshore last conducted the Deepwater Drilling Rig Survey in 2006. The most notable change is the absorption of GlobalSantaFe in the list. In July 2007, Transocean Inc. and GlobalSantaFe Co. merged to form one company, now known only as Transocean Inc. The combined company boasts a technologically advanced fleet with a substantial presence in ultra deepwater and deepwater drilling and additional growth from newbuild rigs.
In a statement at the time of the merger, Robert L. Long, CEO of Transocean said, “GlobalSantaFe’s outstanding rig fleet complements Transocean’s, and the combined company will have a global fleet of 146 rigs. This transaction will enhance our high-end floater fleet, including five newbuild ultra deepwater units.”
Looking at the survey, Transocean reports no new vessels entering the market in 2008, but five newbuilds in 2009 and three in 2010.
TheDiscoverer Clear Leader, Discoverer Americas, and Discoverer Inspiration (2009) are enhanced Enterprise-Class deepwater drillships equipped to work in up to 10,000 ft (3,048 m) of water, rated to work in up to 12,000 ft (3,658 m) of water, and designed to drill down to 40,000 ft (12,192 m).
TheKG1 (2009) and KG2 (2010) are Samsung deepwater drillships. KG1 is equipped to work in up to 12,000 ft of water and the KG2 is equipped to work in up to 10,000 ft of water. Both are rated to work in up to 12,000 ft of water and are designed to drill down to 35,000 ft (10,668 m).
The new Hyundai vessel is a MSC Gusto P10000 deepwater drillship. It will hit the market in 2010. The drillship is equipped to work in up to 10,000 ft of water, rated to work in up to 12,000 ft of water, and designed to drill to 40,000 ft.
TheDiscoverer Luanda enhanced Enterprise-Class deepwater drillship also is due to hit the market in 2010. It is equipped to work in up to 7,500 ft (2,286 m) of water, rated to work in up to 12,000 ft of water, and designed to drill down to 40,000 ft.
TheGSF Development Driller III is the only newbuild deepwater semisubmersible Transocean has in the construction yard. It is a KFELS MSC Gusto DSS51 design and will hit the market in 2009. The semisubmersible is equipped to work in up to 7,500 ft of water, rated to work in up to 10,000 ft of water, and designed to drill down to 37,500 ft (11,430 m).
SeaDrill Offshore has the greatest number of newbuilds in the survey with 10. In 2007, the company started rolling out state-of-the-art drilling units and some of the most advanced drilling rigs ever built, based on proven designs.
At press time, two of the company’s newbuilds had hit the market. SeaDrill says theWest Phoenix (2007) and West Sirius (2008) are both sixth generation, high specification deepwater semisubmersible drilling units. They feature a larger operating area, a high load carrying capacity, decreased dependence on frequent supplies, efficiency and improved safety and working environment as well as a special environmental focus, minimizing the exposure to the environment. The drilling units are designed with a dynamic positioning system and a water depth capability up to 3,000 m. In addition, West Phoenix is designed with a dual derrick and is constructed for winter operations in northern and arctic areas.
Six more SeaDrill newbuilds are due to hit the market in 2008. These include theWest Eminence semisubmersible, which is identical to the West Phoenix, and the West Taurus semisubmersible, which is identical to the West Sirus. The West Hercules and the West Aquarius are GVA 7500 semisbumersibles equipped and rated to work in up to 10,000 ft of water and designed to drill down to 35,000 ft. The West Polaris and the West Capella are Samsung 10,000 drilling rigs equipped and rated to work in up to 10,000 ft of water and designed to drill to 37,500 ft.
SeaDrill will take a breather in 2009, then debut two more deepwater drilling units in 2010. TheWest Orion, which is a Friede & Goldman ExD Class semisubmersible, is equipped to work in up to 7,500 ft of water, rated to work in up to 10,000 ft of water, and designed to drill down to 37,000 ft (11,278 m); and the West Gemini is identical to the West Polaris and the West Capella.
Newcomer to the survey is SeaDragon Offshore with two newbuild drilling units. Its sixth generation semisubmersibles currently are under construction. TheOban B is due for delivery in 4Q 2009 and has a long-term contract with Pemex. The second vessel, which is unnamed, is due for delivery in September 2010 and is available for charter. The twin Moss Maritime CS50 Mk II semisubmersibles are equipped and rated to work in up to 10,000 ft of water and designed to drill down to 30,000 ft.
Other notable newbuilds onOffshore’s survey include Aker Drilling’s Aker Spitsbergen and Aker Barents (2008); Atwood’s unnamed semisubmersible (2011); Diamond Offshore’s Ocean Endeavor (2007) and Ocean Monarch (2008) semisubmersibles; and Stena Drilling’s Stena Drillmax (2007), Stena Carron (2008), and Stena Forth (2009) drilling rigs.
