Sete Brasil Orders USD 809 Million Rig from Keppel

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M)  has secured a contract worth approximately US$809 million from  Sete Brasil , for the design and construction of a semisubmersible (semi) drilling rig based on Keppel’s proprietary DSSTM 38E design.

The DSSTM 38E is an enhancement of Keppel’s proven fifth generation deepwater solution, the DSSTM 38. With improved capability and operability, it is designed to meet the stringent requirements of the deepwater “Golden Triangle” region, comprising Brazil, Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.

Scheduled for delivery in 4Q 2015, the rig is intended to support the exploration of Brazil’s estimated 50 billion barrels of deep-sea oil and gas reserves1. Brazil is currently the world’s 11th largest oil producer and is expected to be in the top five by 2020. Its national oil company, Petrobras, has plans for $224 billion in capital expenditure from 2011 to 20152.

According to Sete Brasil’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joao Carlos Ferraz,“Keppel designed rigs have an established track record of operating efficiently in their respective fields and we are confident that the DSSTM 38E rig will be well suited for offshore Brazil. As we grow our fleet of drilling rigs to meet the demands of our customers, partnering reliable shipyards which can deliver quality rigs on time and within budget is an imperative for us.” Sete Brasil specialises in chartering drilling rigs for Brazil’s pre-salt exploration.

DSSTM 38E rig is rated to drill to depths of 10,000 metres below the rotary table in 3,000 metres water depth. It is 108 metres in overall length, with a main deck size of 73 metres by 73 metres. Its operational displacement is approximately 45,000 tonnes.

Jointly developed and owned by Keppel’s Deepwater Technology Group and Marine Structure Consultants, the DSSTM 38E design is in the league of some of the world’s most advanced drilling semisubmersibles. The two DSSTM38 semis, Gold Star and Alpha Star, previously delivered by Keppel FELS to Brazil’s Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás (QGOG), are operating efficiently without disruption in offshore Brazil for Petrobras.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, December 22, 2011; Image: GUSTO MSC