Bops News

Offshore drilling contractor Transocean said its new eighth-generation drillship Deepwater Titan has started its inaugural contract with supermajor Chevron in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.Built by Singapore's Sembcorp Marine and delivered to Transocean subsidiary Triton Titan GmBH in December 2022, Deepwater Titan is the world’s second eighth-generation drillship, constructed based on the builder’s Jurong Espadon 3T design.The dual-derrick ultra-deepwater drillship is the first-ever unit delivered with two 20…

Singapore-based shipbuilder Sembcorp Marine has delivered Deepwater Titan, the world’s second 8th-generation drillship, to Transocean subsidiary Triton Titan GmBH.Deepwater Titan is the second of two new 8th-generation drillships constructed by Sembcorp Marine based on the group’s Jurong Espadon 3T design. The dual-derrick drillship is the first-ever unit delivered with two 20,000-psi blowout preventers (BOPs), well-control, riser and piping systems for high-pressure and high-temperature drilling and completion operations.

Marijana Sosic, Manager, Technical Marketing at Transocean, discusses some of the outstanding features of the Deepwater Atlas – Built in Singapore at Sembcorp Marine's Jurong Shipyard and flying the Marshall Islands flag – and sister-ship Deepwater Titan , which together represent an investment of more than $2 billion.The Deepwater Atlas was launched this year in Singapore. What, specifically, is so special about it?The Deepwater Atlas is the first of its kind eighth-generation drillship that will offer 20,000 psi well control capabilities and a 3.4 million pound hoisting capacity.

Classification society DNV GL reports it has signed a contract for the first Cyber Secure class notation with Stena Drilling. The contract covers the application of the “Basic+” notation to the drillship Stena IceMAX and includes the vessel’s dynamic positioning, drilling and blowout prevention systems (BOP). It will be integrated with Stena Drilling’s own safety management systems.“Being cyber secure is an important step towards ensuring the digital integrity of our vessels, making sure that we take all the necessary safety precautions for our personnel and systems…

For the past few years, depressed commodity prices, stricter regulatory requirements and competition from onshore development at home and from other countries offering attractive offshore lease and royalty terms have had severe impacts on new exploration in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Thankfully, the tide appears to finally be turning.In August, Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 251 drew increased competition for offerings and $178 million in high bids, $53 million more than previous sale held in March.

International offshore drilling contractor Ocean Rig UDW Inc. and South Korean yard Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have agreed to postpone the delivery of the newbuild drillship Ocean Rig Crete to September 2020. "Our subsidiary, that is party to the shipbuilding contract for the construction of its 8th generation enhanced integrated design newbuilding drillship, the Ocean Rig Crete, reached an agreement with SHI to postpone the delivery of the Ocean Rig Crete to September 2020," said a press release from the company. Under the agreement reached with SHI the expected delivery date will be September 30, 2020 but may be brought forward at the option of the Company.

The Scylax is designed to make developments available in the mid to deep–water market at reduced building and operating costs by providing fit-for-purpose capabilities. The key is to focus on the essential functionality for deep-water drilling. Whereas ultra-deep water units feature ever increasing hook loads and capacities, these requirements can be reduced for a large amount of the wells in deep-water. Designing the Scylax based on these rationalized requirements allows for different choices to be made in the design, reducing building and operating costs.

Exploration begins by BHP Billiton using the Deepwater Invictus rig and supported by Lloyd’s Register’s rig integrity team. Lloyd’s Register (LR) announced it has extended rig integrity support for the Deepwater Invictus drilling rig. The company’s expertise in blow-out preventers (BOPs) and rig integrity will be used to provide confidence in how risk is managed for deepwater drilling and well exploration. Kevin Comeau, Dynamic Positioning / Power Management & Marine Safety Systems Manager at LR, said, “We have had a team supporting the Gulf Of Mexico (GOM) drilling program on board Deepwater Invictus and it is this same team that has been requested for BHP Billiton’s drilling program in Trinidad.

Retrieving an unreliable blowout preventer (BOP) is a necessary but expensive operation, costing upwards of one or two million dollars and easily the double in developing ultra-deepwater regions. It is also the main cause of downtime during drilling activity. DNV GL is introducing the BOP▪RDT, a real-time, risk-informed BOP retrieval decision support tool to enable operators to determine when to retrieve the BOP for repair after a detected component failure. Developed at DNV GL’s R&D Center in Rio de Janeiro, the BOP▪RDT tool provides the most comprehensive decision support system, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. It will assist the decision-making process by substantially reducing the degree of subjectivity.

The maintenance of blowout preventers (BOPs) has significant financial, logistical and safety implications for drilling operators and rig owners. DNV GL has now established a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop a risk-based maintenance methodology with the aim to deliver more effective and cost-efficient BOP maintenance. Several BOP manufacturers, operators, rig owners and shelf state regulators have already joined the JIP, and others may still come on board. BOPs have traditionally been subject to time-based maintenance, which can create critical challenges, such as unstructured maintenance management, reduced reliability and equipment overhauls, which consequently may lead to increased operational downtime.

The maintenance of blowout preventers (BOPs) has significant financial, logistical and safety implications for drilling operators and rig owners. DNV GL has now established a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop a risk-based maintenance methodology with the aim to deliver more effective and cost-efficient BOP maintenance. Several BOP manufacturers, operators, rig owners and shelf state regulators have already joined the JIP, and others may still come on board. BOPs have traditionally been subject to time-based maintenance…

Maersk Drilling informs that in Q2 2014 it delivered a profit (NOPAT) of USD 117-m (USD 150-m). While the underlying operational performance remained strong with an operational uptime of 97% (96%), the decrease in profit of USD 33-m compared to Q2 2013 was mainly due to planned activities with growing and maintaining the fleet. The return on invested capital (ROIC) was 7.2% (12.6%). “Once again, Maersk Drilling delivers a strong operational performance, but as expected the financial result was impacted by three rigs undergoing planned maintenance, upgrades and class surveys, and start-up costs for new rigs entering the fleet,” says Claus V. Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling and member of the Executive Board in the Maersk Group.

Maersk Drilling has ordered four Blow Out Preventers (BOPs) and two risers from GE Oil and Gas to be used in the Project 20K™ agreement with BP. The BOPs and risers are intended to be delivered and deployed on two Maersk Drilling 20K™ Rigs by year-end 2018. The order includes options for provision of further BOPs. The order is subject to BP and Maersk Drilling taking the final investment decision on a 20K™ Rig contract. BP and Maersk Drilling announced in February 2013 a joint study agreement to develop conceptual engineering designs for a new breed of advanced technology drilling rigs that will be critical to unlocking the next frontier of deepwater oil and gas resources.

Transocean Ltd. has been awarded a five-year contract by Chevron U.S.A. Inc. for a newbuild dynamically positioned ultra-deepwater drillship. Shipyard delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2016. After customer acceptance, the contract is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2016, contributing an estimated revenue backlog of approximately $1.1 billion, excluding mobilization. Excluding capitalized interest, the capital investment for the newbuild drillship is an estimated $725 million.

Through water communication and positioning technology company, Nautronix, celebrated 30 years in the oil and gas industry this week. Their financial year has come to an end and they are reporting growth in 2012/2013 of more than 41% on the previous year, the company said, with revenue increasing to £16.1 million which demonstrates how much the company has grown over the years. The success of the company comes from the introduction of the Survey Services division and a number of significant contract wins including recently awarded contracts with an approximate value of £2.8 million. As a result of the growth and success of Nautronix in the past year…

GE Oil & Gas has received two Spotlight on New Technology awards from the 2013 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) for two new products that address the challenges of deepwater drilling. The awards showcase the latest and most advanced hardware and software technologies that are leading the offshore exploration and drilling industry into the future. RamTel Plus System and ROV Subsea Display Panel. Blowout preventers (BOP) are critical components to drilling operation safety and are used on all wells, both on and offshore. GE’s RamTel Plus System and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Display provide the industry with real-time, electronic measurements of the BOP’s ram position and the pressure required to actuate the blades and/or sealing elements.

Rising energy demand from Asia Pacific countries is a key factor driving the growth in regional offshore oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activities. In response to this, The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Singapore, Innovation Norway in alliance with DNV and Norwegian Business Association (Singapore) is staging the Asia Offshore Technology Conference in Singapore. The conference will examine and draw practical conclusions about ‘The Challenges of Offshore E&P in Asia Pacific’. A specially commissioned report into the critical trends of the sector in the region will be unveiled at the half day event. The report, by consultants Douglas Westwood, was commissioned by leading Norwegian Classification Society Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Innovation Norway and the Norwegian Embassy, and Mr.

Subsidiaries of Frigstad Deepwater Ltd sign construction contracts for two ultra deepwater semi-submersible drilling units from CIMC Raffles in Yantai, China. The 7th generation drilling units are of the Frigstad D90™ design, developed by Frigstad Engineering and tailor made for safe and efficient exploration and development drilling in ultra-deep waters. The rigs will be capable of operating in water depths up to 12,000 feet and drilling to a total depth of 50,000 feet. The units will be outfitted with a DP3 dynamic positioning system, full dual activity hydraulic drilling package with 2 x 1,400 ST hoisting capacity and 2 x seven ram BOPs.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) issued three significant documents addressing response, enforcement, and safety issues related to offshore operations in August 2012. Specifically, BSEE issued (1) new guidance concerning regional Oil Spill Response Plans (“OSRPs”), (2) formalized policy addressing direct enforcement actions against contractors engaged in offshore activities, and (3) a Final Rule implementing new safety measures related to well control operations occurring on the outer continental shelf (“OCS”). The following is a summary of these new developments.

Transocean Ltd. awarded 10-year contracts for four newbuild dynamically positioned ultra-deepwater drillships by Royal Dutch Shell (Shell). Shipyard delivery for the first drillship is scheduled for mid-2015. The remaining three drillships are expected to be delivered from the shipyard at approximately six-month intervals thereafter. After customer acceptance, the contracts are expected to commence in 2015 and 2016, contributing an estimated revenue backlog of $7.6 billion, excluding mobilization. The aggregate capital investment for the four newbuild rigs is an estimated $3.0 billion, excluding capitalized interest. All four drillships have advanced capabilities: each is designed to operate in water depths of up to 12,000 feet and drill wells to 40,000 feet.

The Atwood Admiral is expected to be delivered by March 31, 2015 at a total cost, including two blowout preventers ("BOPs"), project management, drilling and handling tools and spares, of approximately $635 million. The design of the Atwood Admiral will be identical to the previously ordered Atwood Advantage and Atwood Achiever – all three are DP-3 dynamically-positioned, dual derrick ultra-deepwater drillships rated to operate in water depths up to 12,000 feet and drill to a depth of up to 40,000 feet.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Director James A. Watson delivered remarks today at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. Director Watson discussed recent recruitment incentives, BSEE's offshore safety focus and regulatory priorities. Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s continued efforts to enhance safety offshore. This is my first time at OTC, and I have been extremely impressed by the scientific and technical know-how on display…

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Michael R. Bromwich delivered remarks today during the International Association of Drilling Contractors’ Drilling and Production Keynote Breakfast here. Director Bromwich discussed ongoing regulatory reform efforts and highlighted plans to strengthen the bureau’s enforcement tools and processes. Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to be here with you today to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. It is great to be back in Austin and to be back at the Barton Creek Resort. History has an odd way of repeating itself, and our lives present us with strange coincidences  The first time I came to Barton Creek was almost exactly ten years ago.