Wärtsilä to supply power and positioning for Cat D semis

Wärtsilä is to supply the power and positioning system for the two new Cat D offshore drilling rigs being built for Songa Offshore AS at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co.Ltd (DSME) shipyard in South Korea.

The development of the two Cat D semi-submersible drilling rigs has been initiated by Statoil, which awarded two long- term contracts for the units to Songa in July 2011.These rigs have been designed for mature fields on the Norwegian continental shelf. The purpose is to make drilling and completion of production wells less expensive, more effective and safer, and thereby boost oil recovery.

The first two units will be delivered in 2014,

The contract for the power and positioning system was signed in November 2011 an calls for Wärtsilä to supply for each rig a total of six 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines in V-configuration with ancillaries, and six Wärtsilä FS3500 main steerable thrusters, as well as the integration of the entire system. Additionally, the engines and thrusters will be equipped with Wärtsilä’s unique condition monitoring system. Delivery will begin in 2012 and the first rig is scheduled to be operational during 2014. Wärtsilä has an option for two further rigs.

“The proven reliability and superior efficiency of the Wärtsilä propulsion solutions were the major factors in the award of this contract,” says Magnus Miemois, Vice President at Wärtsilä Ship Power, Offshore. “Calculating the average load profile for deepwater drilling rigs, the efficiency is approximately three per cent better than those offered by competitors. The high efficiency enables fuel cost savings and has also clear benefits in terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions (CO2).” 

The local Wärtsilä service network in Norway will provide full support for the equipment.

The semi-submersible rigs are custom designed for efficient year-round drilling, completion, testing and intervention operations in harsh environments and arctic conditions. The rigs meet the Det Norske Veritas CLEAN-DESIGN criteria, meaning that the Wärtsilä engines are IMO Tier 2 compliant.

Scope of supply per rig:

Six 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines in V-configuration
Six Wärtsilä FS3500 main steerable thrusters
Ancillaries

Vessel type:
GVA 4000 NCS cat D semi-submersible rig
Length overall: 116 m
Breadth overall: 97 m
Water depth: 100-500 m
Drilling depth: 8,500 m
Power generation 6 x 5.6 MW = 33.6 MW
Thrusters: 6 x 4 MW = 24 MW
Mooring system: 8/(12) Lines
Accommodations (single cabins): 130

Songa Offshore is an existing Wärtsilä custome, taking delivery in 2011of eight thrusters for the “Songa Eclipse” semi-submersible rig.

January 23, 2012