Mud Systems News

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.

Keppel FELS complete two rigs early for Transocean and Asia Offshore Drilling, earning a combined US$1.5-milliion bonus. Over two consecutive days Keppel FELS held naming ceremonies for twin jackup rigs built for Transocean, and another jackup rig built for Asia Offshore Drilling (AOD), which is majority owned and managed by Seadrill Limited. Transocean named twin Super B Class Bigfoot jackup rigs, Transocean Siam Driller and the yet to be completed Transocean Andaman, at a ceremony in Keppel FELS in the presence of Guest of Honour, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Customised to meet Transocean's requirements, the two rigs are contracted to Chevron for work in offshore Thailand.

Rowan Companies, Inc. (NYSE: RDC) announced today that a subsidiary has entered into turnkey contracts for the construction of two ultra-deepwater drillships with a cost of approximately $605 million each. The drillships will be constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. ("HHI") at its Ulsan shipyard, and are expected to be delivered in late 2013 and mid-2014. Matt Ralls, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our long-stated strategy has been to focus on and diversify our offshore drilling business, and we are excited to take this first step into the ultra-deepwater sector.

The business of lube and fluid supply is fiercely competitive and ever-changing, continually challenged to deliver more economical, environmentally and better performing product. Maritime Reporter spent some time with Carmen Pino, a West Point graduate and the Regional Operating Director, Castrol Offshore , to discuss his team’s strategy to grow its business. How would you describe your management philosophy? Pino       I am very participative; I want to meet all of my people and the customers personally. At the same time, I set clear direction and boundaries.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., has re-delivered the 254-ft. supply boat, Elsa Leigh, to Aries Marine Corp., Lafayette, La. While it looks like a new vessel, Elsa Leigh is the new name for the former Seacor Clipper after an extensive renovation at Bollinger’s Morgan City shipyard. The new name is in honor of Elsa Leigh, the four year-old daughter of Courtney B. Ramsay, vice-president of Aries Marine. “This is the kind of project we love,” said Donald “Boysie” Bollinger, chairman and CEO of Bollinger.

Bollinger Shipyards last month re-delivered the 254-ft. supply boat, Elsa Leigh, to Aries Marine Corp., of Lafayette, La., which is the new name for the former Seacor Clipper following extensive renovation at Bollinger's Morgan City shipyard. The new name is in honor of Elsa Leigh, the four year-old daughter of Courtney B. Ramsay, vice-president of Aries Marine. "This is the kind of project we love," said Donald "Boysie" Bollinger, chairman and CEO of Bollinger. Much of the work involved mechanical systems in the hull and replacement of about 30 percent of the boat's steel. The vessel was brought up to ABS DPS 1, FiFi1 and GMDSS Area 3 certification. Her two main EMD engines were removed and rebuilt by NREC in Houma, La., who boosted their power from 1,250 hp each to 1,500 hp each.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La. recently delivered the first of two advanced technology supply boats to L&M BoTruc Rental, Inc., Golden Meadow, La. These vessels, at 191 ft. long will not be anywhere near the largest supply vessels delivered recently, but for their size they have enhanced deck cargo and liquid cargo carrying capabilities such as twice as much fuel oil as the 180-ft. vessels they are aiming to replace. Like Bollinger's slightly larger 207-ft. series of supply boats, these vessels feature advanced monitoring and control systems along with DP capability. In addition, these two vessels integrate engine control, steering and DP-1 into a single system that allows the various components to "talk" to each other in a seamless fashion.

There are no doubt scores of 15 to 20-year-old 180-ft. supply boats that still have years of useful life… if renovated by skillful and creative marine engineers. That is what ENSCO Marine Company, Broussard, La. has done with a six-pack of vintage supply boats whose day rates and utilization had slipped due to age and limited carrying capacity for their size. ENSCO Marine is a division of ENSCO International, a Dallas, Texas-based drilling contractor who owns and operates 56 drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, Asia Pacific and South America. ENSCO Marine operates 23 offshore supply boats and five anchor handling tugs.

It is no secret that the overwhelming number of marine repair jobs at the nation's shipyards involves regulatory inspections. For example, the 150-ft. supply boat Mary R. Martin was in at Allied Shipyard, Larose, La. in mid-July for ABS and Coast Guard inspection and the change out of a few seals. The boat was dry docked for the inspections and minor repair work, her hull blasted and painted and after a few topside repairs in the slip and more paint work she was back at work. That type of "shave and a haircut" work is typical at Allied and other repair yards, but they are capable of much more complex work that literally extends the life of a vessel by many years. Earlier this year Allied finished a complete work over of the 195-ft. by 40-ft. supply boat Ms.