ABS to Class Newbuild Jackups for Petrobras

ABS has been selected to class the first newbuild jackups for Petrobras in 25 years.  The Brazilian energy giant has ordered two LeTourneau Technologies Inc. (LTI) Super S116E design jackups.  The sister units, to be named Petrobras 59 and Petrobras 60, will be built at São Roque do Paraguaçu, Bahia, Brazil, by Consórcio Rio Paraguaçu. This consortium is composed by three major Brazilian contractors, Oderbrecht, Queiroz Galvão and UTC.  The rigs are intended for operation offshore Brazil.  

ABS will class the self-elevating rigs that are capable of drilling under high pressure and high temperature, operating in water depth of up to 350 ft with drilling depth of up to 30,000 ft This type of high specification jackup has not been built in Brazil for nearly 25 years.  When classed the units will have the following notation: À A1 Self Elevating Drilling Unit.  The jackups are scheduled for delivery in 2011.  

“We are honored to have been chosen as the class society for these drilling units,” said Jose Carlos Ferreira, Vice President, South American Region, ABS.  “Some of the world’s most complex and challenging offshore and marine projects take place in Brazil. This award recognizes ABS’ practical work experience and technical knowledge with respect to jackups.”

ABS has a Special Committee on Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) and supports design innovations and continued frontier developments for jackups with published standards and commentaries to provide industry direction on the application of ABS Rules to jackups.  

ABS is currently involved with research studies that will benefit jackup operators as new, higher specification, deeperwater, deeper drilling jackups enter the market from shipyards in Singapore, China and the US.

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