ABS releases MODU lay-up, reactivation guide

MAY 2, 2015 — ABS, the leading provider of classification services to the offshore industry, has published a guide to help offshore drilling unit owners carry out rig lay-ups.

The new ABS Guide for Lay-Up and Reactivation of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units provides requirements for stacking units, based on the type of lay-up to be carried out, and provides information for moving rigs back into active operation.

“With global drilling fleet utilization down to nearly 70 percent, asset owners are laying up rigs, and they are looking to ABS for guidance,” says ABS Executive Vice President of Global Offshore Ken Richardson. “Our Lay-Up Guide provides information for maintaining assets while in lay-up status and outlines a process for laying up rigs and moving them back into service in a way that is streamlined and straightforward.”

The Guide includes information on cold-stacked and warm-stacked assets and introduces “Enhanced” status for laid-up units, a designation that notes the lay-up location and procedures for the unit have been reviewed and verified by ABS in accordance with this Guide.

The ABS Guide provides requirements that cover the location, mooring arrangements, a risk assessment and the level of emergency response capability needed and includes requirements for reactivation that verify the unit is in a safe condition to move onsite and begin operations.

The ABS Guide for Lay-Up and Reactivation of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units is available for free download at www.eagle.org.