New deepwater drillship for Pride

Delivered by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), the Mendocino is expected to mobilize to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and commence a five-year contract with a subsidiary of Petroleo Brasileiro (Petrobras) during the second quarter of 2011, following the completion of integrated testing and acceptance by the client.

The 228.6m long, 42m wide newbuilding is one of five new drillships in Pride’s deepwater drillship expansion program with SHI. The first two drillships, the Deep Ocean Ascension and the Deep Ocean Clarion, were delivered by SHI in 2010. The fourth drillship, the Deep Ocean Molokai, is scheduled to complete construction in December 2011. In December 2010, Pride announced that it had reached an agreement with SHI for the construction of a fifth deepwater drillship with an expected delivery in mid-2013. The agreement includes an option for a sixth unit which could be exercised during the first quarter of 2011.

The diesel electric plant comprises six 9,000kW MAN 18V32/40 medium speed diesel engines coupled with ABB 8,750 kVA AC generator. Propulsion is by means of six Rolls-Royce 5.5MW azimuth thrusters underwater dismountable, fixed pitch propellers with nozzles.

Each of the company’s new deepwater drillships is designed with numerous parallel features intended to reduce the amount of time to construct a well in up to 12,000 feet of water. The

Mendocino

is equipped with dynamic positioning in compliance with DPS-3 certification, a 6,000-barrel active fluid storage and handling system, significant storage and deck space and accommodations for up to 200 personnel.