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Home Fossil Energy PHOTO: Jack-up Maersk Highlander heads for Culzean field

PHOTO: Jack-up Maersk Highlander heads for Culzean field

June 30, 2016
Maersk Highlander heading for North Sea. Image source: Maersk Drilling Twitter
Maersk Highlander heading for North Sea. Image source: Maersk Drilling Twitter

Maersk Drilling’s jack-up drilling rig, the Maersk Highlander, has set off on its voyage to the Culzean gas field in the UK sector of the North Sea.

The newbuild harsh environment jack-up rig will work for Maersk Oil on its operated Culzean gas field.

Maersk Drilling informed through social media channels on Wednesday that the jack-up rig has set sail towards its North Sea location. The rig is being transported by a Dockwise heavy transport vessel.

To remind, the drilling contractor acquired the newbuild rig from financially troubled Hercules Offshore in late May after Hercules was urged by Jurong Shipyard to take delivery of and pay for the rig. Soon after, Maersk Drilling took delivery of the rig from the shipyard in Singapore.

The rig came with a five-year drilling contract on the Culzean field valued around $420 million, including a mobilization fee of $9m.

Maersk Highlander is of a Friede & Goldman JU2000E, categorized as a 400ft rig, with 30,000ft drilling depth and HPHT (High-Pressure High-Temperature) capabilities. It has accommodation capacity for up to 150 personnel.

The overall Culzean development concept consists of a wellhead platform, a central processing facility platform, and separate utilities and living quarter platform with capacity for over 100 people. The platforms will be linked via two bridges approximately 100 meters in length. First gas is currently expected in 2019.

A wellhead jacket for the Culzean field’s wellhead platform was installed at its North Sea location in mid-May by Heerema Marine Contractors.

Maersk Oil has 49.99% interest in the field, and its partners are JX Nippon and Britoil, a subsidiary of BP. Britoil recently doubled its stake in the Culzean field by acquiring 16% interest from JX Nippon thus boosting its interest to a total of 32%.

Offshore Energy Today Staff