The famous Nigg yard on the Cromarty Firth has joined the tiny, exclusive club of European yards with dry docks capable of accepting semi-submersible drilling rigs for overhaul.
Borgsten Dolphin was eased into the revamped Nigg Dock on September 27. The rig is due to be in Global Energy Group’s hands for 90 days, 60 of which will be in the dry dock undergoing an intensive overhaul/upgrade prior to going on contract to Total for drilling in the UK North Sea Dunbar field.
The major scopes for the Global team include:
o Installation of a 4th Mud Pump
o Decommissioning of drilling and well control facilities
o Fabrication and installation of a support pedestal for a new customer supplied gangway to the Dunbar platform
o Installation of additional mud storage in the moonpool
o Fabrication and installation of interfacing platforms, piping and utilities to provide drilling services to the Dunbar platform
o Plating in of previously grated deck areas
o Fabrication of new lifeboat platforms and upgrading of the life boats
o Accommodation upgrades to enable more crew to be carried, including more facilities
As a result of Global taking control of and investing heavily in Nigg as a multi-purpose complex, the company now offers an alternative to traditional centres such as Rotterdam and possibly even the Azores for rigs transiting from the North Sea to southerly destinations, or entering northwest European waters to work.
The company also intends to capture a slice of the production ship (FPSO) market, with contracts currently under negotiation.
CEO Iain MacGregor told Energy: “Rather than replicate Nigg’s past, we are regenerating the yard to follow a more sustainable model in the future. This policy requires that a balanced mix of contracts be undertaken on the yard, covering the marine, subsea, topside, nuclear and renewable sectors.
“Since opening the drydock and deepwater quayside, we have been overwhelmed by the interest in servicing and upgrading drilling rigs and FPSOs in particular.
“Closely following the Borgsten Dolphin, we expect to start work on two significant projects that should generate over £50million before the financial year is out (March 31 2013).
” Later in the year we expect to engage in FPSO projects as well as additional drilling facilities. The FPSO projects are particularly exciting for the group as we are seeing a combination of offshore integrity workscopes in our Aberdeen facilities, followed by marine work in the yard, as well as topsides in the fabrication shops.”
MacGregor said that the fabrication shops at Nigg continued to be busy, with a string of subsea fabrication projects, as well as a major project in the nuclear sector for Sellafield.
“The multi-construction mix is enabling the Group to build continuity into the yard, sustaining employment without the traditional cycles once seen at Nigg.
“This enables us to employ over 70% of our workers in staff positions, and the ability to commit to the training of 1,200 people in the next three years.”