AWARDS 2022 | Best OSV – Drillship – Deepwater Atlas – LMG Marin & Seatrium

Best OSV – Drillship – Deepwater Atlas – LMG Marin & Seatrium

This kind of deepwater drillship has become a Singaporean speciality. Of course, no one, not even in Singapore, knows the deepwater drillship industry better than Sembcorp Marine (now Seatrium). This drillship is a fine example of the partnership between Seatrium and subsidiary LMG Marin.

“In addition to being the first ever newbuild eighth-generation drillship,” Seatrium told Baird Maritime, “it is based on a proprietary design possessing the highest specifications. It is one of only two drillships in the world to feature a net three-million-pound (1.36-million-kilogram) hook-load hoisting capacity and well control systems able to accommodate 20,000psi drilling operations. The ship can drill in water depths up to 12,000 feet (3,657 metres) with drilling depths able to reach 40,000 feet (12,192 metres).

Seatrium said one of the primary challenges it faced was the adaptation of the 20,000psi C&K manifold into the existing drill floor, which was originally designed and configured for a 15,000psi manifold. This presented a significant hurdle effort as it required careful consideration and collaboration between the yard, the supplier, and client Transocean to minimise the impact of changes and ensure a seamless integration.

“To address this challenge, we invested a substantial amount of time and effort in studying the existing design and piping interface, closely coordinating with both the supplier and the client. Through this collaborative approach, an innovative solution was formulated that allowed for the installation of the 20,000psi manifold while reducing the overall impact on the drill floor.

“The key breakthrough came in the form of increased flexibility in the design of the 20,000psi manifold. The yard worked closely with the supplier to develop a manifold system that could be split into two halves, enabling its installation through an existing hatch. This approach not only simplified the installation process but also minimised the need for extensive modifications to the drill floor structure.”

Seatrium remarked that the shipbuilding industry is gravitating towards cleaner products and solutions.

“The Basel capital regime has taken significant steps promoting clean energy and reduction in carbon emissions. Such regimes carry stringent conditions and high interest rates, affecting funding and delaying project FID for traditional oil and gas projects. Geopolitical instability is also disrupting the global supply chain, creating scheduling uncertainty that may drive the critical path and result in project delays.”

The builder added that in Singapore, the push to improve workforce productivity and become manpower-lean will be felt in the impending reduction of migrant workforce quota. Seatrium will have to adjust to the new norm through enhancing output per worker or pivot to a resource-light execution model.

“The energy crisis seems to put most of the existing offshore support fleet into operation again, either within oil and gas or wind,” drillship designer LMG Marin commented when asked about the future of the offshore industry. “In Norway, for instance, most of the existing offshore vessels that serve the Norwegian part of the North Sea will need upgrades including hybrid propulsion solutions for their footprint to be reduced. These upgrades will typically be containerised battery solutions, as the spinning reserve solution has an amazing effect in DP operations.”

The designer said oil companies will initiate some newbuild tenders for OSVs based on alternative fuels such as ammonia. Fuel supply solutions will be developed in parallel with these projects.

“We are also seeing transport of liquefied CO2 becoming more widespread in relation to carbon capture and storage projects,” LNG Marin added.

For a list of the 2022 “Best Of” award winners, please click here.