Shell, Noble introduce Noble Bully 1 to GoM

Shell and Noble's state-of-the-art offshore rig can drill in up to 10,000 ft of water. The design features a compact box-type drilling tower, known as a multi-purpose tower, instead of a conventional derrick.

The first operations are scheduled for Shell's Mars B "Olympus" development. TheNoble Bully II is expected to begin operations early next year in Brazil.

The Bully rig design features a compact box-type drilling tower, known as a multi-purpose tower, instead of a conventional derrick. The tower is designed to maximize productivity and safety, yet allow for a smaller vessel compared to other deepwater drillships of similar capacity.

The ship also uses less fuel and is shorter and lighter than comparable drillships. TheNoble Bully I and Noble Bully II, are dynamically positioned drillships that feature ice-class hulls.

Converted accommodation vessel to serve offshore Brazil

Equinox Offshore Accommodation has contracted Sembawang Shipyard to convert a ropax vessel to a DP-2 accommodation and repair vessel. Sembawang says it won the $140-million contract based on its track record in passenger-ship conversion and upgrading, and in DP-2 and DP-3 offshore vessel conversion work.

The vessel, which will be renamedARV3, is due to arrive in the shipyard in January for the conversion/modification. When completed it will be a diesel electric DP-2 vessel designed and equipped to provide accommodation for up to 450 personnel and workshop facilities to support offshore facilities and projects in deepwater.

On completion in late 2012,ARV3 will be deployed offshore Brazil for five years under a charter contract with Petrobras.

Hornbeck contracts 16 newbuild OSVs

Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. has signed contracts for construction of 16 high-specification offshore supply vessels following the recent announcement of its $720-million newbuild program.

VT Halter Marine Inc. of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and with Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. of Panama City, Florida, each have separate contracts to construct eight 300 class vessels with options to build additional such vessels.

VT Halter will construct eight vessels based on the Super 320 design it developed for Hornbeck Offshore. These DP-2 OSVs are designed to have 6,200 long tons of deadweight capacity, approximately 20,900 bbls of liquid mud carrying capability, 11,863 sq ft (1,102 sq m) of deck area and a fire-fighting class notation. The Super 320 design has a double-hull that eliminates any fuel storage adjacent to the sideshell, and propulsion machinery that meets the requirements of EPA Tier 3 for stack emissions.

The eight OSVs to be constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding will be DP-2 classed and consist of four vessels based on the STX Marine SV 300 design and four vessels based on the STX Marine SV 310 design. Features include more than 20,000 bbls of liquid mud carrying capacity and a fire-fighting class notation. The SV 300 design calls for 5,500 long tons of deadweight capacity and 10,976 sq ft (1,020 sq m) of deck space, while the SV 310 design calls for 6,144 long tons of deadweight capacity and 11,536 sq ft of deck space. The STX designs meet the same environmental standards as the Super 320 design and will also carry the ENVIRO class notation by the American Bureau of Shipping.

Leiv Eriksson sails south for Falkland wells

The semisubmersible Leiv Eriksson is on its way to the Falkland Islands after completing this year's drilling campaign off Greenland for Cairn Energy.

The rig has been contracted for the upcoming Borders & Southern (B&S) and Falkland Oil & Gas Ltd (FOGL) combined drilling program.

FOGL expects the two B&S wells to take around three months to drill, meaning that the company's first well on the Loligo prospect will likely spud in late April or early May 2012, followed on completion by its second well.

Anadarko contracts drillships for Mozambique

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has contracted Dolphin Drilling Ltd. to provide theBedford Dolphin drillship, and a newbuild drillship under construction, for four years.

TheBedford Dolphin contract starts Jan. 1, 2012, in continuation of its existing contract with Anadarko. The drillship under construction by Hyundai Heavy Industries is expected to start drilling in 4Q 2013.

The contract values are $701 million and $727 million, respectively. The newbuild contract includes mobilization and a second BOP. Both vessels are expected to support Anadarko offshore Mozambique.

Anadarko operates the 2.6-million-acre Offshore Area 1 with a 36.5% working interest. Co-owners in the area include Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 Ltd (20%), BPRL Ventures Mozambique B.V. (10%), Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 Ltd (10%), and Cove Energy Mozambique Rovuma Offshore, Ltd. (8.5%). Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, E.P.'s 15% interest is carried through the exploration phase.

Dockwise wins rig transport assignments

Dockwise has won 12 new contracts with a total value of $55 million, of which six are due to be executed by year-end. They involve transportation of four jackup drilling rigs, one semisubmersible drilling rig, dredging equipment, offshore transfer and elevation platforms, and tugs and barges.

Transportations in 2012 will include a spar buoy from Finland to the Gulf of Mexico. Dockwise also has entered into a Master Service Agreement with Keppel in Singapore to transport the latter's jackup and semisubmersible rigs.

It is similar to the agreement Dockwise announced with Seadrill last year, and should standardize conditions and accelerate negotiations on single transportation assignments.