Caterpillar To Supply Power For New Rigs

Six diesel-fueled Caterpillar 3616 engines will provide more than 26 MW of safe, reliable electricity to power three technologically-advanced, deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs from Schlumberger Desco Forex. Two of these rigs are currently being built at French DCN Brest shipyard, with a third undergoing construction at Singapore-based PPL. Compared to usual semis, Sedco Express is designed with a lower center of gravity, a feature that provides more stability, increased deck load capacity and less noise. Rated at 4.4 MW of continuous power, each engine has been combined to form a completely redundant power supply and distribution system - a main factor required for DPS3 certification.