Maersk takes delivery of first of four drillships

FEBRUARY 24, 2014 — Maersk Drilling today took delivery of its first ultra deepwater drillship, Maersk Viking, from the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) shipyard in Geoje-Si, South Korea, and the ship Maersk Viking has started its voyage to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to commence a three year contract with ExxonMobil.

Maersk Drilling is investing $2.6 billion in its four vessel drillship newbuild program at SHI. All are scheduled for delivert this year.

Featuring dual derrick and large subsea work and storage areas, the drillship design allows for efficient well construction and field development activities through offline activities. With their advanced positioning control system, the ships automatically maintain a fixed position in severe weather conditions with waves of up to 11 metres and wind speeds of up to 26 metres per second.

Special attention has been given to safety on board the drillships. Equipped with Multi Machine Control on the drill floor, the high degree of automation ensures safe operation and consistent performance. Higher transit speeds and increased capacity will reduce the overall logistics costs for oil companies.

Class     American Bureau of Shipping
Work area     Water depths up to 3,600 m (12,000 ft)
Operating draft     12 m (39 ft)
Transit draft     8.5 m (28 ft)
Hull dimension     228 m x 42 m x 19 m (748 ft x 138 ft x 62 ft)
Rated water depth     3,600 m (12,000 ft)
Rated drilling depth     12,000 m (40,000 ft)
Variable load     20,000 t
Power supply     6 x min 7,000 kW diesel generators
Propulsion     6 x 5,500 kW azimuth thrusters
Well control equipment     15,000 psi, 18.75 inch BOP; six cavity BOP stack
Cranes     4 x knuckle boom cranes, 85 t SWL at 18 m (59 ft), 17 t at 42.3 m (139 ft)
Cement pump     15,000 PSI (on free placement)
Hoisting equipment capacity     2,500,000 lb
Drawworks     9,000 hp
Top drive     2 x 11,350 hp
Mud pumps     5 x 2,200 hp, 7,500 psi
Bulk mud capacity     4 x 105 m³
Bulk cement capacity     4 x 105 m³
Liquid mud capacity     Active 960 m3 (6,030 bbl) Reserve 950 m3 (5,980 bbl)
Accommodations     230 people