Tracy Dulle • Houston
Saipem to build deepwater field development ship
Saipem plans to build a $547-million deepwater field development ship,Saipem FDS 2. The construction order will be placed with a shipyard in 2Q 2008 after completion of the engineering phase. Fabrication is expected to last 36 months.
The new ship will have a maximum length of 175 m (574 ft), molded breadth of 32 m (105 ft), and molded depth of 14.5 m (48 ft). It will be equipped with a DP-3 system, have a maximum transit speed of 13 knots, and accommodate 280 people.
The vessel also will be fitted with a vertical J-lay tower with a maximum capacity of 1,500 tons (1,361 metric tons) designed for installation of up to 36-in. (91-cm) diameter pipe in up to 3,000 m (9,842 ft) water depth.
MODEC’s Stybarrow Venture MV16 produces first oil
MODEC has first oil from the FPSOStybarrow Venture MV16. The vessel is in permit WA-255-P in the Exmouth sub-basin off the northwest coast of Australia. The unit sailed form Jurong shipyard in Singapore at the end of August 2007.
MODEC was responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning of the FPSO and holds the operation and maintenance services contract for 10 years, with possible extensions.
Second Bully rig scheduled
Shell EP Wells Equipment Services BV and Frontier Drillships Ltd. have committed to contract a second deepwater/arctic drillship of the Bully class. Rig delivery is expected in 2010.
The Bully rig is a smaller vessel suited for deepwater or arctic drilling capable of drilling with surface BOPs in up to 12,000 ft (3,658 m). It also has an ice class hull.
First Middle East built jackup launches
Maritime Industrial Services Co. has loaded out the first jackup drilling rig built in the Middle East. The rig is a Friede and Goldman Super Mod 2 design rated for 30,000 ft (9,144 m) drilling depth in 300 ft (91 m) of water.
TheSeaWolf Oritsetimeyin is the first of two jackups being built by MIS for SeaWolf Oilfield Services Ltd. of Nigeria. The second rig is scheduled for delivery in December 2008.
StatoilHydro extends jackup contract
StatoilHydro has extended its contract for Seadrill’s jackupWest Epsilon by one year.
The extension, valued at around $116 million, will keep the rig on duty until November 2010.
Aker gets contract for harsh environment rig
StatoilHydro has contracted the harsh environment, deepwater drilling rigAker Spitsbergen upon construction completion in July 2008.
The rig is to work offshore Norway. The duration of the contract has not been fixed.
Pemex contracts construction vessel
Pemex has awarded a letter of intent to Constructora Subacuátic Diavas for a five-year inspection, maintenance, and repair contract using the DeepOcean MPSVArbol Grande.
The DeepOcean MPSVArbol Grande will be used to fulfill a construction contract with Pemex.
The contract to DeepOcean is valued at NOK500 million ($89 million) and begins in 2Q 2008. Diavaz plans to install a crane on the vessel to meet Pemex requirements.
Solstad orders dive/construction vessel
Solstad Offshore has contracted Bergen Group for a newbuild diving/offshore construction vessel for delivery in September 2010.
Skipsteknisk in Aalesund designed the 120-m (394-ft) long, 23-m (75.5-ft) beam ST 256 L CD vessel. Features will include a 200-ton (181-metric ton) offshore crane, a diesel electric propulsion system, a DP-3 dynamic positioning system, a 24-man diving system, and ROV handling capability.
A yard in Poland is to build the hull, followed by outfitting at Bergen Group’s facility in Bergen. The contract value is around $134 million.
PGS extends Aquila Explorer contract
PGS has exercised both six-month options of the time charter contract forAquila Explorer, making the contract firm until February 2009. The 12-month extension has a total value of $20 million.
Hornbeck Offshore to acquire Superior Achiever
Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. has agreed with Superior Offshore International Inc. to purchase theSuperior Achiever, a T-22 class DP-3 new generation multi-purpose support vessel, and related owner-furnished equipment.
The MSV is under construction at Merwede Shipyard in Holland with an anticipated 4Q 2008 delivery. Merwede Shipyard also is building for Hornbeck theHOS Iron Horse, a T-22 class DP-3 MPSV of the same design, with an expected 4Q 2009 delivery.
With the pending acquisition of theSuperior Achiever, the company’s MSV program now consists of four vessels.
Hornbeck also plans to expand its current offshore supply vessel newbuild program. The company has contracted for the construction of two additional proprietary 240 ED class offshore supply vessels with Atlantic Marine in Jacksonville, Florida, which is the same US shipyard that is currently building four identical sister vessels for Hornbeck. The two new vessels are anticipated to be delivered in 2010.
