Baker Oil Tools launches HR Hughes

Baker Oil Tools' new HR Hughes.

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The commissioning of the MV HR Hughes, Baker Oil Tools' newest fracturing and stimulation vessel, took place on the Houston Ship Channel in early June. The vessel is 270 ft long by 56 ft in width, with a stimulation pumping rate of 60 bbl/min and proppant capacity of 2.2 million lb. Baker Oil Tools contends that the vessel is the largest proppant-capacity fracturing vessel in the Gulf of Mexico and one of the largest in the world.

This vessel was designed according to criteria compiled from surveys and customer interviews and addresses identified industry needs. Baker claims the MV HR Hughes has the most redundant offshore fracturing capability, which allows it to significantly lower deepwater operating expenses. The vessel joins the MV RC Baker and the MV Republic Tide to form Baker's fleet of formation fracturing, gravel packing, and stimulation service vessels.

General Marine has one-of-a-kind newbuild

General Marine Leasing displayed its two new US Coast Guard-approved 12-man sleeper modules at this year's Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. The two newbuilds are the first of an order that calls for several more, and the company plans to build 50-100 of these units in the course of the year. The 12-man sleepers are specifically designed for deepwater locations, where only US Coast-Guard approved vessels are permitted.

Upgrades for Veritas vessels

Veritas DGC Inc. announced it has placed an order with Thomson Marconi Sonar Pty. Ltd. for the latest TMS Guardian small diameter, solid seismic streamer. The order follows an earlier agreement with Sercel for supply of Sercel's new SSC solid streamer. Veritas intends to deploy solid streamer technology throughout its fleet, as operations and availability allow.

Delivery of the Marconi streamers is expected in September, with initial deployment of the equipment on one 2D vessel and one high-capacity 3D vessel. The current delivery schedules sees the first three Veritas vessels equipped with solid streamers before the end of December. The upgrade of remaining vessels will be addressed next year.

Veritas has also modified the M/V Seisquest, which was re-launched in the second quarter of 2001 in Bergen, Norway. The vessel has been lengthened, widened, and re-powered to accommodate the latest multi-element seismic systems. The M/V Seisquest replaces a vessel that has been retired from the Veritas fleet.

Veritas is upgrading its fleet to maintain a competitive position. "A well-defined program of fleet upgrades over the next few years will keep Veritas at the technical forefront, while providing an appropriate response to current market requirements," stated C. Richard Price, Senior Vice President of Veritas' Marine Data Acquisition Division.

The M/V Seisquest sailed from Norway to begin work offshore southwest Ireland. The vessel is scheduled to complete a series of projects in the North Sea during the summer season.

Sedco Energy begins operations

Transocean Sedco Forex announced its new ultra-deepwater semisubmersible Sedco Energy completed acceptance testing and began a 42-month contract with Texaco in the Frade Field in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil. This semisubmersible is rated for 7,500 ft water depth capability and is one of three Sedco Express-class semisubmersible rigs added to the Transocean Sedco Forex fleet in 2001.

ASRY busy in Bahrain

Bahrain's ASRY fabrication yard ahs been busy in the first half of 2001. The company claims an 18% increase in the number of vessels worked on and a 33% increase in the volume of work performed in the first quarter, over last year. An ASRY spokesperson says companies from around the workd are discussing vessel repairs and conversions.