Marathon Letourneau News

Gibdock Completes Semi-Sub Project

Gibdock has completed its work on the semi-submersible accommodation platform, Etesco Millennium - the first offshore platform project to be undertaken by the yard in almost 15 years. The semi-sub’s eight-month stay at the yard represented an important milestone for the Gibraltar shiprepair facility, as it continues its campaign to broaden the range of its growing offshore business. Etesco Millennium arrived at Gibdock in October 2011 and the yard worked closely with the owner…

Jack-up Rig Gorilla VII Loaded in Rotterdam

The Rowan Gorilla VII Jack-up rig that was built by the Marathon LeTourneau Super Gorilla was loaded in the , The Netherlands, on board Mighty Servant 1. The operation started at 7.00 A.M. and the Rowan Gorilla VII was in position and lifted out of the water. The Mighty Servant 1 will depart for . After its voyage the Gorilla VII Jack-up rig will be discharged in . The Jack-up rig is operated by Rowan Companies Inc. The Rowan Gorilla VII is both a very large and heavy cargo: its overall length is 121.43 meters.

Transocean Agrees to Sell Three U.S. GoM Jackups

Transocean Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement with Hercules Offshore, Inc. to sell three of its U.S. Gulf of Mexico jackup drilling rigs and related equipment for $320m. The sales of the GSF Adriatic III, GSF High Island I and GSF High Island VIII will mark Transocean's exit from the shallow-water area of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The sales are expected to be consummated at the conclusion of each rig's current contract commitment and are subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. Built in 1982, the GSF Adriatic III is a Marathon LeTourneau 116C design jackup with a water depth capability of 350 feet.

HSR Completes Rig Upgrades for Global Marine

The Offshore Division of Houston Ship Repair, Inc. (HSR) has recently completed two major rig upgrades for Global Marine Drilling Company. HSR was selected as the primary contractor for the re-powering and mud system enhancement stages of the Glomar Baltic I upgrade project. The Marathon LeTourneau Super 300 jackup drilling rig was re-powered with five Caterpillar type 3516 TA V, 1,305 kW diesel generator sets, replacing the three existing EMD diesel engine driven 1,400 kW generators. HSR was also contracted to replace the two existing National 12-P-160 mud pumps with three National 14-P-220 mud pumps. HSR removed the existing generator and mud pump units…

Global Marine Announces Two Long-Term Drilling Contracts Offshore West Africa

Global Marine today announced it received a letter of commitment from Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of TotalFinaElf, for two-year contracts for both the Glomar Adriatic I and Glomar Baltic I jackup rigs to work on the Amenam/Kpono field offshore Nigeria. Producing Nigeria Unlimited operates this field development project. The contracts for the two units include key rig upgrades, which are anticipated to cost about $23 million in total. The two contracts are expected to generate combined revenues of approximately $121 million to Global Marine. for extension of up to one year. four operating offshore Nigeria," Marion Woolie, president of Global Marine Drilling Company, said. 410 feet of leg.

Quick Modification of Offshore Jack-Up Drilling Rigs

Bollinger Fourchon, LLC, a subsidiary of Bollinger Shipyards, demonstrated its ability to modify or repair offshore jack-up drilling rigs quickly and cost effectively, with three recently completed projects. One project, for R&B Falcon Drilling, Inc., involved the replacement of jet piping (which blows away sand and mud around the rig legs for easier movement) and the fabrication and erection of an interior bulkhead on the Cliffs 150 rig in just eight days. The other two nearly-identical projects involved Glomar Adriatic IX and Glomar Adriatic X, two Marathon LeTourneau Class 116-C jack-up drilling rigs owned by Global Marine International Drilling Corporation of Houston. On each rig, Bollinger, in conjunction with Marathon LeTourneau, lengthened the three legs from 410 ft. to 477 ft.