Keppel lands Brazilian rig contract

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), through Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), has secured a groundbreaking contract to design and build its first drilling rig for deployment in Brazilian waters. The $270 million contract from Brazilian drilling contractor Queiroz Galv?o Perfura?ões (QGP) is to build a semi submersible drilling platform, with the owner supplying the drilling and subsea equipment.

The rig will be built based on a fifth generation deepwater solution, the DSS 38 for delivery in third quarter 2009 and is expected to support Petrobras? aggressive plan to improve its hydrocarbons production and reserves in Brazil and elsewhere in the region. The national oil company of Brazil has just upped its capital expenditure by 66% to $87 billion over a five-year ending 2011, with exploration and production accounting for 56% of the expenditure.

An innovative and highly cost-effective new design, the DSS 38 semi-submersible drilling rig has been developed to meet operational requirements in the deepwater “Golden Triangle” region, comprising Brazil, Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. The region accounts for 85% of the world?s deepwater exploration and production expenditure over the next five years.

The DSS 38 is rated to drill to depths of 30,000 feet below mud line in just over 9,000 feet water depth. It is 99.5 metres in overall length, with a main deck size of 69.5 metres wide by 69.5 metres breadth. Its maximum operational displacement is approximately 40,000 tonnes at a draft of 20.5 metres. The maximum variable deck load is 5,500 tonnes, with accommodation facilities housing a crew of up to 130 men. It has both vertical and horizontal riser storage. The eight 3,000 kW Azimuthing thrusters configuration are designed to keep the vessel in position. All configurations comply with the American Bureau of Shipping Dynamic Positioned System (DPS-2) requirements.