VESSELS, RIGS, UPGRADES

July 1, 2006
Keppel Shipyard recently secured two FPSO conversion contracts -- one for Maersk Contractors and another for SBM.

David Paganie, Houston

FPSO conversions

Keppel Shipyard recently secured two FPSO conversion contracts -- one for Maersk Contractors and another for SBM.

Sevan Marine’sSSP Piranema arrived at Keppel Verolme Shipyard in Rotterdam, where the outfitting and assembly of its processing plant are underway. The FPSO can process 30,000 b/d of oil and store 300 MMbbl of oil. The unit will be fitted with up to 21 risers and umbilicals for operation on the Piranema field offshore Brazil for Petrobras beginning in 4Q06. The FPSO’s contract term is fixed for 11 years. Photo courtesy of Sevan Marine.

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Keppel’s contracted workscope for the $60-million Maersk contract includes conversion of the 2000-built VLCCEllen Maersk into an FPSO, installation and integration of the floater’s topsides, fabrication and installation of the vessel’s internal moonpool for the turret, flare tower, piperack, and helideck, and upgrading of its accommodation module.

The 308,000-dwt tanker, measuring 333 m long by 58 m wide, will be capable of processing 120,000 b/d of oil and 100 MMcf/d of gas. It will also come equipped with storage capacity for 1.9 MMbbls of oil.

The tanker is expected to arrive in Singapore in early 2007 for conversion, with completion by early 2008. The FPSO will be deployed in 400 m of water on the Vincent field offshore Australia for Woodside Energy under an initial seven-year term. First oil is expected in 2008.

Keppel picked up a second FPSO conversion contract from Single Buoy Moorings (SBM). The shipyard will convert the 1975-built VLCCCapella into the FPSO Mondo, capable of processing 100,000 b/d of oil and storing 1.6 MMbbl of oil. Conversion work is expected to be completed in 3Q07.

The 273,000-dwt VLCCCapella measures 337 m long by 55 m wide.

Additional workscope contracted to Keppel includes installation and integration of the vessel’s topsides modules, installation of its external turret and helideck, fabrication and installation of the unit’s flare tower, and bow modification work.

ExxonMobil will lease the FPSO from SBM for operation on its Mondo field on block 15 offshore Angola for the Kizomba C project. The vessel will be moored in around 740 m of water.

Rig construction

Keppel FELS secured a $182-million order from the Great Eastern Shipping Co. to deliver a KFELS B Class jackup drilling rig.

Transocean’s semisubmersible drilling rig,Sedco 709, is transported atop Fairmount Marine’s semisubmersible, Gavier Lifter, from Saldanha Bay to Cape Town, South Africa for upgrades and maintenance. Transocean has selected RBG to perform the work once it arrives, under a $20-million contract. RBG’s workscope includes pre-fabrication and installation of four blister tanks, renewal of 150 metric tons of high tensile steel plates and internals inside the port and starboard pontoons, installation of new accommodation modules increasing capacity to 150 personnel, new lifeboats and associated structures, renewal of approximately 3,000 m of pipe and a new brine system, and complete overhaul of one deck crane and the mechanical overhaul of thrusters and winches. The rig will be moored at the Port of Cape Town atop the Gavea Lifter for the 60-90 drydock period. The semi will then mobilize to Nigeria to undertake a scheduled two-year commitment for Shell beginning in October. Photo courtesy of RBG.

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The rig will be capable of drilling to 30,000 ft deep in 350 ft (upgradeable to 400 ft) of water. It will come equipped with capacity to accommodate 112 people. The rig is scheduled for delivery in 4Q09.

Meanwhile, Sevan Marine signed an agreement with China-based Hantong Shipyard for construction of the hull for its first SSP-designed drilling unit. The rig will be designed to operate in ultra-deep waters in harsh environments. It is scheduled to enter the active drilling market in the first half of 2009.

Sevan signed a second agreement with Hantong for rights to build up to nine additional drilling SSPs. The agreement runs through Dec. 31, 2012.

Hantong is also building the hull of a Sevan-designed SSP 300 FPSO. This marks the construction of its fourth SSP 300 unit. According to Sevan, it signed over exclusive rights for the FPSO to an oil company, which expires on June 30, 2006. If the option is exercised, the unit will be installed in the North Sea in 2009, under a fixed-term of 10 years at $540 million.

Acergy charters

Acergy has entered into an agreement with Dofcon ASA for the charter of the newbuild heavy construction ship,Skandi Acergy. The vessel’s eight-year charter will begin upon delivery in 2Q08.

Construction of the vessel is underway at the Aker Soviknes yard in Norway. The 153-m long vessel is being fitted with a 400-metric-ton crane, a 3,000-metric ton under-deck carousel, DP-3 capability, and an ice-class hull, enabling operations in the Barents Sea and northern North Sea.

Acergy also secured the charter of theToisa Proteus from the Toisa/Sealion Group of companies for a three-year term in the Asia-Pacific region. The DP-3 ship, fitted with a 400 metric ton crane, is capable of performing heavy construction and diving support services.