Bruce Beaubouef • Houston
Heerema to build new vessel
Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) says it has signed a letter of intent with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., Korea (DSME), to produce of a new deepwater construction vessel. The newbuild will require an investment of $600-700 million.
For this investment, HMC has decided to build a monohull vessel that can perform complex deepwater infrastructure and pipeline projects, but also with sufficient lifting capacity to install fixed platforms in relatively shallow water. A key attribute of the vessel will be its fast transit speed.
The new 210-m (688-ft) long, self-propelled vessel will be fitted with a pipelay tower for J-lay (tension capacity of 2,000 metric tons, or 2,204 tons) and reeling. A crane with a revolving lift capacity of 4,000 metric tons (4,409 tons) will be installed together with deepwater lowering equipment to reach a water depth of 3,500 m (11,482 ft), which HMC says is comparable with its deepwater construction vesselBalder.
The vessel also will be equipped with a Class 3 dynamic positioning system. The hull configuration is designed for fast transit speed and optimum motion characteristics in operation, while the maximum pipe payload is 4,500 metric tons (4,960 tons). The deckhouse is designed to the latest standards and can accommodate 289 persons.
DSME has been awarded the design, engineering, procurement, construction, installation, commissioning, and testing of the vessel. Huisman will be responsible for the cranes, tower, and reels. The vessel is scheduled for completion of all tests and trials by mid-2013.
Signal announces semisubmersible upgrade
Signal International says it has been awarded a $15-million enhancement of theNoble Jim Thompson semisubmersible drilling rig. The work is currently under way at Signal’s newly renovated east yard facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
The work scope includes enhancing the stability of the rig while in transit or when drilling by outfitting the rig’s vertical columns with three 246-ton (223-metric ton) water plane tank cone sections. Signal also will convert the void tank in the bow column to a ballast tank. This will enable trimming of the vessel to the required draft, once the new cone sections have been installed.
In addition, a new level of crew quarters will be constructed, increasing manning capacity to approximately 138 personnel. Other upgrades on theJim Thompson include engineering, fabrication, and installation of a 143-ton (129-metric ton) helideck and a new 10-ton hydraulic crane on the bow. Signal says it will work simultaneously on all three columns to complete all work and inspections in the shortest possible time so as to return the rig to drilling operations.
Saipem, FLEX to cooperate on LNG development
FLEX LNG has signed a memorandum of understanding with Saipem for exclusive cooperation on a floating liquefaction (FLNG) project offshore Australia. The project is being developed by an Asian national oil company.
FLEX LNG will contribute itsLNG Producer concept and its construction contracts with Samsung Heavy Industry. Saipem will provide its project management skills and experience with floating production systems and natural gas treatment and LNG liquefaction plants.
The parties intend to form a joint project team to manage the Pre-FEED and FEED work for the project. The joint team also intends to cooperate after the final investment decision to insure successful execution of the engineering, procurement, construction, integration, and commissioning.
ABB wins $20-million marine order
ABB has won an order worth $20 million to provide complete power systems, drilling drive, and propulsion systems for a new deepwater drilling rig to be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) at its shipyard in South Korea. The end customer is Brazilian ship owner Petroserv, who will operate the drilling rig for Petrobras. The rig is scheduled to be commissioned by early 2012.
The order calls for ABB to supply complete electrical systems for the semisubmersible drilling rig, including power generation, and high and low voltage distribution systems. It also calls for the company to deliver the drilling drive system, propulsion drive system, and related engineering services.
In addition to supporting the short delivery schedule, the scope of supply has been selected specifically to improve equipment reliability, efficiency, and availability, securing a stable supply of power throughout all rig systems.
ABB says that this will be its fourth semisubmersible drilling vessel project for DMSE. The company delivered the same scope of supply for the Petroserv #1 rig, which also operates for Petrobras in Brazil.
Acergy deploys vessels off West Africa
Acergy S.A. has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $1.3 billion for the engineering, procurement, fabrication, and installation of a significant deepwater development, offshore West Africa.
Engineering has commenced on the project, and offshore installation is scheduled to begin in 4Q 2012. The company says that it will use its new state-of-the-art pipelay ship, theAcergy Borealis, as well as its Acergy Eagle and Acergy Legend vessels.
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