Oil drilling ship gets Wartsila power

Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract to deliver six Wärtsilä 32 diesel engines with a combined power of over 40 MW for the world’s largest oil drilling ship which is being built by Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea.

Ordered by Stena Drilling, a member of the Stena group of Gothenburg, Sweden, this oil drilling ship has the project name Stena Drill MAX. It is dynamically-positioned with twin drilling derricks and is intended for oil and gas exploration in ultra deep water (up to 3,000 m) and harsh environments such as the Norwegian and Barents Seas. With a displacement of 97,000 tonnes, an overall length of 228 m and breadth of 42 m, it will be the world’s largest oil drilling ship and will be capable of drilling to a depth of 11,000 m. The vessel is due for delivery at the end of 2007.

Wärtsilä will supply six 16-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 diesel engines, together with various ancillary equipment, including fuel and lubricating oil filters, coolers and pumps. The engines each have a power output of 7,290 kW at 720 rpm and will drive the main generators that will meet the vessel’s total power requirements for dynamic positioning, propulsion, drilling, and hotel services.