Offshore staff
LONDON– Ensco plc (NYSE: ESV) has ordered a new ultra-deepwater drillship to be built at the Samsung Heavy Industries Shipyard in Geoje, South Korea. The vessel, ENSCO DS-8, will be the sixth Samsung DP3 drillship in the company’s fleet.
Scheduled for delivery in 3Q 2014, the contract is valued at $645 million.
Ensco says the new unit will have advanced capabilities to meet the demands of ultra-deepwater drilling in water depths of up to 12,000 ft (3,660 m) and a total vertical drilling depth of 40,000 ft (12,190 m).
New features on ENSCODS-8 include retractable thrusters, enhanced safety and environmental features, improved dynamic positioning capabilities and advanced drilling and completion functionality including below-main-deck riser storage, triple fluid systems, offline conditioning capability, and enhanced client and third-party facilities.
The new drillship is based on the proprietary Samsung GF12000 hull design measuring 755 ft (230 m) in length and 125 ft (38 m) in width. It will offer a payload in excess of 22,000 metric tons and a 1,250-ton hoisting system.
4/5/2012
