Semco Maritime to upgrade Odfjell rig ahead of Total gig

Offshore drilling contractor Odfjell Drilling and Semco Maritime have signed a contract for preparation and modification of Deepsea Stavanger rig prior to its start of a nine-month drilling campaign for Total in the harsh waters outside South Africa.

Deepsea Stavanger rig
Deepsea Stavanger rig

Back in July 2019, Total signed a firm contract with Odfjell Drilling to use the 6th generation semi-submersible Deepsea Stavanger for drilling offshore South Africa. The drilling program is expected to last between 180-280 days and mobilization to South Africa is expected to start in the first quarter of 2020.

In the first quarter of 2020, the semi-submersible rig will complete a high docking (with thrusters on) in Semco Maritime’s rig yard at Hanøytangen, Bergen, Semco Maritime informed on Wednesday.

“The high docking enables for a minimized diving operation during antifouling of the hull and optimization of the time spent on seawater valve change,” said Managing Director of Semco Maritime Norway, Lars Jønholt Halvorsen.

The method furthermore enables for other measures to optimize the hydrodynamics of the hull as the transit and planned drilling operation would benefit from this modification. These measures will reduce the carbon footprint of the rig when in operation, Semco said.

“During the risk-out phase, we have enjoyed excellent cooperation with the Odfjell Drilling team with a shared focus on how to perform a high docking on one of the largest floating drilling units in the world,” said Lars Jønholt Halvorsen.

Deepsea Stavanger is custom-built for operations in harsh environment areas. The heavy double-derrick unit was built in 2010 and designed for operations at water depths of up to 3,000 meters. The scope of the project includes upgrading the rig’s hull and mooring system as well as the installation of purpose-built equipment for operations in the tough environment off the South African coast.

Semco Maritime expects to employ 100-200 people on the project at Hanøytangen where the facilities include dry-dock of 125×125 meters, accommodation with single beds for 365 workers, several quays with the depth ranging from 17-90 meters at the quayside and people in-house and support from suppliers with track record on rig upgrade projects.


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