Jessica Tippee Houston
Construction of the Karish FPSO is scheduled for completion in 4Q 2020. (Image courtesy Sembcorp Marine)
Sembcorp Marine to build Karish FPSO
TechnipFMC has contracted Sembcorp Marine Rigs & Floaters Pte. Ltd. to engineer, procure, and construct the hull and living quarters of the newbuild FPSO bound for the Energean Oil & Gas-operated Karish and Tanin gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea.
The contract includes fabrication and integration of various topsides modules, as well as installation of owner-furnished equipment. The FPSO’s hull is estimated to be 227 m (745 ft) long and 50 m (164 ft) wide, with a total oil storage capacity of 800,000 bbl and gas production capacity of 8 bcm per annum. Scheduled for completion in 4Q 2020, the FPSO will be deployed about 90 km (56 mi) offshore Israel.
The Cat J jackup drilling rigAskeladden at the Gullfaks field offshore Norway. (Courtesy Statoil)
Second Cat J starts operations offshore Norway
KCA Deutag has started drilling operations with the new Cat J jackupAskeladden on the Gullfaks field in the Norwegian North Sea.
Statoil and its co-licensees acquired the newbuild rig, constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea, for production and exploration drilling on Gullfaks Satellites. Start-up had to be delayed until March 26, due to weather-related issues.
Gunnar Nakken, head of the operations west cluster at Statoil said, theAskeladden would help extend Gullfaks’ productive life beyond 2030.
Initially it is plugging two existing wells with the spare slots then re-use for new well targets. One well will be side tracked into the Rimfaks Lomvi prospect at a depth of 4,200 m (13,779 ft) to explore for new hydrocarbon deposits. Currently Statoil plans to use the rig for 11 wells during its first two years of operation. KCA’s contract runs for eight years.
According to drilling superintendent Carlos Kauffmann: “This is a very exciting rig which is well prepared for a digitalized future, and can start using almost any new technology.
“It has a subsea blowout preventer, which is not common on jackup rigs. That makes it an excellent working platform for improved work efficiency, and reduces our need to wait on weather. Our challenge will be to utilize the weather windows properly, and avoid moving the rig in the winter season.”
Sister rig theAskepott began development drilling at Oseberg Vestflanken 2 in the North Sea in February.
More time needed for newbuild jackup market recovery
Fabricator Lamprell does not foresee the newbuild jackup rig market recovering in the near to mid-term, despite the recent oil price stability. In its latest results review, the company said that oil producers are continuing to restrict capex, with few new project awards. However, rig refurbishment is more solid, and Lamprell noted a recovery in new orders toward the end of last year, although the scope of work requested is more limited than in the past.
The company is now pinning much of its hopes on the new maritime yard in Saudi Arabia. Construction of the complex started recently. Lamprell, one of the partners in the development, also pre-qualified for a long-term agreement with Saudi Aramco. If successful, the company will be allowed to bid for around $3 billion of offshore EPC contracts each year.
Construction under way on Fast4Ward FPSO hull in China
First steel cut of the hull of SBM Offshore’s first standardized Fast4Ward FPSO occurred recently at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and Offshore Co. Ltd. (SWS) shipyard.
In August 2017, SBM committed to move forward with its Fast4Ward project on a speculative basis, contracting the first newbuild, multi-purpose hull from China Shipbuilding Trading Co. and SWS.
At OTC 2016, the company announced its new standardized FPSO concept Fast4Ward, naming the design of the FPSO ‘Generation 4.’ This solution is said to provide for lower cost, faster schedule with greater predictability in terms of deliverability. SBM also claimed it can enhance project Net Present Value and ensure that offshore project economics are fulfilled. The concept is said to speed delivery by up to 12 months, with improved quality and productivity, and a higher degree of safety.
The construction scope relates to the generic hull which, with standardized topsides, forms the basis of the Fast4Ward concept.
Höegh LNG increases FSRU fleet
Höegh LNG has taken delivery of theHöegh Esperanza, its eighth floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea constructed the high-specification FSRU, which is designed for open, combined, and closed loop regasification operations. It has a storage capacity of 170,000 cu m of LNG and a maximum regasification throughput of 750 MMcf/d. The FSRU is 294 m (965 ft) long, 46 m (151 ft) wide, and is equipped with a GTT Mark III membrane containment system and dual-fuel diesel-electric p1opulsion.
