UK: Harris Pye Completes Upgrade Works on Drillship Ocean Clipper

In just 90 days, the Harris Pye Group successfully completed the survey and upgrade of Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc’s (DODI) dynamically positioned drillship, the Ocean Clipper. All work was completed well within schedule.

P Thomas Geiger, P.E., Director, Projects Department of DODI has written to Harris Pye stating: “Because of the great workmanship, reliability, and professionalism of your staff and on-time delivery of your workscopes, your company is now considered to be a viable preferred alternative to the traditional shipyards in Brazil…. We look forward to working with Harris Pye as future rig projects come available.

Totalling 247,235 man hours and utilising a 600-plus workforce, the contract was one of the largest offshore oil and gas projects for the South Wales headquartered company. Despite the time-critical schedule, extraordinarily high man hours and large workforce, safety standards were superb and there were no serious accidents or injuries to any personnel.

The upgrade encompassed accommodation, cranes, steelwork (for which 250 tons of steel were supplied); major pipe renewal in excess of 2 miles (3225metres) of piping); painting; and the removal and replacement of transformers and motors; and four major electrical tasks along with many other, not necessarily less complex, but smaller electrical tasks. Activity was split between dry dock and alongside.

Originally built by Mitsubishi in 1977, Ocean Clipper has a rated drilling depth of 25,000ft and, in 1999, made a name for herself by setting a new record in the Gulf of Mexico in more than 7,200ft of water – she is rated to 7,900ft. She currently has a five-year commitment to Petrobras.

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World Maritime News Staff, February 29, 2012