Maersk Supply vessels support drilling campaign offshore Australia

Maersk Supply Service has completed the tow of a semi-submersible drilling rig from Las Palmas to North-Western Australia and has continued to support a three-well drilling campaign for Quadrant Energy. 

Maersk Supply won a contract with Quadrant Energy for two of its Starfish-class anchor handling vessels, Maersk Master and Maersk Mariner, back in January 2018.

The vessels were hired to support Quadrant’s Phoenix South and Van Gogh three-well drilling campaign and support Transocean’s semi-submersible rig Development Driller 1 with supply and anchor handling duties throughout the campaign.

The tow was carried out by Maersk Master vessel, Maersk Supply informed on Thursday. The company noted that Maersk Master was able to accommodate the complete rig mooring system onboard, minimizing rig draft, as well as optimize bunker costs along the journey by retaining maximum bunker of 2300t.

According to the company, the first leg of the tow of the semi-submersible MODU rig was direct from Las Palmas to Cape Town. Maersk Master and the rig then rounded the Cape of Good Hope for a final port call in Port Louis, Mauritius before crossing the Indian Ocean to join Quadrant Energy’s Phoenix South and Van Gogh drilling campaign off the coast of North-Western Australia. The total journey was 10,230 NM for a total of  87 towing days.

Since arriving at the Phoenix South and Van Gogh drilling campaign, Maersk Master has continued to support the semi-submersible with supply and anchor handling duties, alongside its sister vessel Maersk Mariner.

As previously reported, the rig arrived at the Phoenix South-3 well drilling location offshore Australia in early April and started drilling the Phoenix South-3 well in mid-April. The Transocean-owned rig continued with drilling operations and, by mid-May, the 20” casing was set and cemented in place, the blowout preventer (BOP) installed and pressure tested.

The latest report by one of Quadrant’s partners, Carnarvon Petroleum, issued in late June informed that the progress had been slower than anticipated due to precautionary inspection and maintenance procedures. According to the latest AIS data, the rig is still located in the Timor Sea with Maersk Master and Maersk Mariner close by.

David Kearney, Managing Director and Operations Manager Asia-Pacific, Maersk Supply Service, said: “Our new-build vessels are designed to maximize fuel economy and be flexible in the way they use power. However, there is always more that can be done during any operation to ensure fuel consumption is kept to a minimum. That is why we scrutinize all operational plans to make sure we optimize work scopes with our customers and ensure lower speed is used when timelines allow.”

Offshore Energy Today Staff