Energy service firm Dolphin Drilling has named the next addition to its drilling fleet after a £415million-plus investment.
The ceremony for the 751-foot drillship Bolette Dolphin took place at the Hyundai Heavy Industries Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, where the vessel is being built.
It is designed for efficient deepwater drilling and completion activity and will start work on an exploration campaign for Anadarko Petroleum later this year.
Graeme Murray, managing director at Dolphin’s Aberdeen-based UK division, was in South Korea for the naming ceremony.
He said the investment in Bolette Dolphin was a key step in the Norwegian group’s strategic development.
A stronger focus on deepwater projects was directly in line with industry demands as exploration and production continued to push to ever greater depths, he added.
Mr Murray said: “The ship marks a significant investment for the group and will be one of the most advanced deepwater drillships in the market.
“Equipped to operate within 12,000ft of water, with a maximum drilling depth of 40,000ft, we are confident it will deliver favourable results for Anadarko and its major exploration campaign.
“The Bolette Dolphin will stand Dolphin Drilling in great stead, helping ensure our long-term future as we continue to drive forward our vision of being the preferred drilling contractor for the operation of mobile drilling units.”
Dolphin’s companies, including a 90-strong team in Dyde, Aberdeen, form the drilling contracting activities of Norwegian group Fred Olsen Energy.
Offshore drilling activities are controlled from offices in Aberdeen, Stavanger in Norway, Pemba in Mozambique, and Rio de Janeiro and Macae in Brazil. There is also an office in Singapore, providing management support.
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