Reef Subsea Secures Offshore Operations Contracts in West Africa

Reef Subsea has secured two contracts for offshore operations in the West Africa region with a combined value of more than US$15M (£9.8 Million).

The firm’s IMR and Construction division, based in Bergen, Norway, is working with two major oil and gas companies on the projects in The Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea.

For both projects, Reef Subsea, which also has a presence in Aberdeen, Houston, Mandal in Norway and Surrey and Stockton-on-Tees in England, is providing operational support using one of its subsea construction support vessel’s, Reef Larissa, which will perform structure installations, ROV & survey operations and commissioning support in water depths down to 1400 metres. In addition, onshore engineering will be delivered from Reef Subsea’s Bergen office. Reef Subsea will add to the operational competence and experience involved in the projects while ensuring the scope of work is carried out in a safe and efficient manner.

Tim Sheehan, Executive VP Commercial of Reef Subsea, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these two contracts, which confirm our teams and assets are well adapted to subsea construction operations in deepwater worldwide. We have already worked in West Africa over the past few years, and are pleased to be operating in this region again to strengthen our reputation further.”

Ørjan Lunde, Managing Director of Reef Subsea IRM & Construction, said: “We are pleased to have secured these two projects in West Africa with blue chip operating companies. West Africa will be a key region for us in the future to meet our strategy to become a leader in field of life IRM & Construction services.”

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Gulf of Mexico: Seadrill Secures Contracts for Three Newbuild Drillships

Seadrill has received a commitment from a major oil company for new contracts on newbuild drillships West Auriga, West Vela and a third drilling unit currently in operation, which will be named later. The combined 3 rig package involves 19 rig years and a potential contract value of US$4 billion, including mobilization fees for the newbuild units.

West Auriga and West Vela are currently under construction at Samsung Shipyard in Korea. The newbuild units will commence transits to the Gulf of Mexico upon delivery from the yard, scheduled for late February and May 2013. Start-up of operations are scheduled for September and December 2013. The West Auriga and West Vela are the fourth and fifth drillships delivered to Seadrill by Samsung in the last 4 years. Each rig will be equipped with 1250 ton load capacity, an active heave compensated subsea construction crane and two 7 ram blow out preventers.

Alf C Thorkildsen, Chief Executive Officer in Seadrill Management AS, says, “The breadth and depth of this commitment from a major oil company is the result of our track record of delivering rigs on time, operating with a competent workforce and having the availability of a modern fleet. We are excited about the opportunity to further grow our fleet and operations in the US Gulf of Mexico, which we consider as one of the most cost effective drilling regions. In addition, the term of the contracts fits well with Seadrill financing plans including the potential use of MLP financing.”

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Norway: Aker Solutions Secures Draupne FEED Contract

Aker Solutions has won a contract from Det norske oljeselskap to conduct a front-end, engineering and design (FEED) study for the Draupne field on the Norwegian continental shelf.

The study will be carried out by Aker Solutions’ newly established engineering office in London, and delivered to the license partners in Q4 2012. The contract value is undisclosed.

“I am very pleased that Det norske has decided to follow on the pre-FEED contract with the award of the topsides FEED contract for the Draupne development. The Draupne pre-FEED was the first contract awarded to the re-established Aker Solutions engineering entity in London. The new award confirms the successful build-up of our London office,” says Valborg Lundegaard, executive vice president and head of engineering in Aker Solutions.

London

Aker Solutions in 2011 decided to re-enter the London engineering market. Only a few months after opening the new office in Chiswick Park, the company is once again becoming a significant player in the London market. The engineering office now counts 90 employees, and Aker Solutions expects to be around 200 people by the end of 2012.

Draupne

The Draupne field is located to the west of Stavanger in the North Sea. The partners in the Draupne field have agreed with the partners in the Luno field on a coordinated development solution for the area. Draupne will be developed using a fixed platform with pre-processing, and the well stream will be transported from the Draupne platform to Luno for final processing and export to the markets.

Det norske is the operator and owner of 35 per cent of the Draupne license, together with Statoil (50 per cent) and Bayerngas Norge (15 per cent).

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USA: Hercules Offshore Secures Contract for Newly Bought Rig

Hercules Offshore, Inc. announced yesterday the execution of a definitive agreement to acquire the offshore drilling rig Ocean Columbia from Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.

The purchase price is $40 million in cash. Ocean Columbia is a LeTourneau Class 82 SD-C jack-up drilling rig registered and flagged in the Marshall Islands. Subject to customary closing conditions, the Company expects the acquisition to close in May 2012.

“Hercules approached us with an offer to acquire the Ocean Columbia, and we found the terms to be compelling,” said Larry Dickerson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Offshore. “We are principally a floater company, and this transaction will further augment our funds for potential investments in deepwater and ultra-deepwater assets.”

Saudi Aramco contract

Hercules Offshore also announced that it has entered into a three-year drilling contract with Saudi Aramco for the use of the Ocean Columbia. Over this three-year period, the Company expects to generate total revenues of $160.0 million, including a lump-sum mobilization fee, assuming a utilization rate of 98% for the rig. Under the drilling contract, Saudi Aramco has the option to extend the term for an additional one-year period. Prior to commencing work under the contract, the Company expects to spend approximately $45.0 million for repairs, upgrades and other contract specific refurbishments to the rig and to mobilize the rig from the Gulf of Mexico to the Middle East. The Company expects the rig to commence work under the contract in November 2012.

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Norway: Kleven Maritime Receives Contract for Rem Fortune Renovation

Kleven Maritime will carry out an extensive remodeling of the offshore vessel Rem Fortune, from the platform service vessel into the multi-purpose support vessel.

The vessel is currently placed at Myklebust Yard in Gursken, where it should be mounted with a 100-ton offshore crane. Reconstruction also includes installation of the helideck, opening of the moon-pool, installation of the 8-ton auxiliary crane, anti-heeling system and the ROV equipment. The vessel will be ready for delivery in mid-March.

Myklebust Yard is a combination yard that rates on both a new construction and repair and service operations, and the activity at the yard is very high these days, with five boats at the dock. Kleven Maritime has invested 70 million in new dock coming to Myklebust Yard in the spring. This is a strategically important initiative that sets the yard in a position to take on even greater after-market work for the offshore industry. The dock can take vessels up to 170 meters in length and 28.5 meters in width and has a lifting capacity of 15 000 tons, which is about double the current capacity of Myklebust Yard.

There is an agreement for the sale of Rem Fortune from Rem Offshore ASA to Marine Platforms Limited.

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Willbros Secures Oman LNG Contract

Willbros Group, Inc. announced today that a unit of its Upstream segment, The Oman Construction Company, L.L.C. (TOCO), has been selected to provide general maintenance services for the Oman LNG Qalhat site complex in Sur, Oman.

The five year contract includes an option for three additional years and includes mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, civil, scaffolding, insulation and painting services.

Oman LNG currently operates a three train plant, with a nameplate capacity of 10.4 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa).

Randy Harl, President and CEO of Willbros commented, “We are pleased to continue this assignment, which TOCO has performed for over 10 years, and are privileged to again be selected. This is a testimony to the quality of our team in Oman and the strong relationship, built on solid performance, we have developed with our client. We look forward to working with Oman LNG for many more years.”

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Norway: Odfjell Drilling Secures Contract for Drillship under Constuction

Odfjell Drilling has on behalf of Deep Sea Metro Ltd. secured a contract with the BG Group for its first drillship; the Deepsea Metro I.

The contract with BG Group has a firm duration of 365 days with 3×6 months options and a contract value of approximately 175 million USD including mobilization and net taxes, excluding options.

CEO of Odfjell Drilling Mr. Simen Lieungh says:

“We are delighted that Deepsea Metro I has been chosen by the BG Group for this drilling campaign in Tanzania. We believe that the award of the contract to Deepsea Metro I by BG Group is a validation of Odfjell Drilling’s proven deepwater capabilities and ability to take a new build from yard straight into operations.”

On behalf of Deepsea Metro Ltd, Odfjell Drilling will be manager and operate Deepsea Metro I.

Deepsea Metro I is scheduled for delivery from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) early June 2011. The first well is assigned to Woodside Energy for one well in South Korea prior to start of operations in Tanzania.

Deepsea Metro I is the first of two ultra deepwater drillships. Deepsea Metro II will be delivered from HHI in November 2011.

Original Article