ABS, Keppel to Build Smart Rigs

In an Industry first, the provider of classification services to the offshore industry ABS partnered with Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) in developing the first two new build Drilling Rigs with Smart Notations.

One of the rigs, which was delivered earlier this year for work in offshore Mexico, is already online with its performance being monitored from Singapore.

In line with issuing the ABS Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units, Keppel O&M is recognized as the first shipyard group to integrate smart functions into rigs.

Keppel O&M is a global leader in offshore rig design, construction and repair, ship repair and conversion, and specialized shipbuilding.

Demonstrating ABS and Keppel leadership in offshore digital technology, the rigs utilize data collected from a range of sensors monitoring machinery and structural health to improve their performance.

As part of a Joint Development Project (JDP) with Keppel, ABS refined its methodology to verify and validate Smart Functions, supporting a more data-centric approach to survey after construction and ultimately assisting rig owners to move to a rig-specific Condition-based Class approach.

“These rigs set a new benchmark for offshore assets, underlining how ABS is setting the pace in digital innovation in the marine and offshore industries,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki.

“Smart functionality for both machinery and structures provides a rich stream of data we can leverage in a Condition-based Class approach, offering data-driven insights to focus surveys on areas that need attention—while potentially offering increased uptime and optimizing maintenance practices. As a world leader in digital, ABS is dedicated to harnessing the benefits of these technologies for our clients,” he added.

Chris Ong, CEO of Keppel Offshore & Marine said: “These are the industry’s first drilling rigs with Smart Notations and demonstrate how Keppel is adding value with our proprietary RigCare Solution. This encompasses a suite of digital services, which in close collaboration with ABS and partners, supports the rig’s lifecycle needs."

Ong added: "RigCare Solution will significantly transform the efficiency, safety and operability of the rig. We have been monitoring the performance of the first rig in offshore Mexico from our HQ in Singapore and we are pleased with how the system is supporting our customer’s operations in real world conditions. Greatly appreciate the support from ABS in this JDP.”

ABS and Keppel will continue to work together in this JDP on a variety of projects covering a wider range of vessel types and assets.

In 2018, ABS introduced comprehensive guidance providing the marine and offshore industries a goal-based framework to enable data-driven decision making based on smart technology.