Drilling major Ensco has ordered a further $625million advanced-capability ultra-deepwater drillship based on the Samsung GF12000 hull design.
The vessel, Ensco DS-10, is the eighth Samsung class DP3 drillship to be ordered by the American though UK domiciled company.
As usual, it will be built at the Samsung Heavy Industries, Co Ltd (SHI) shipyard in South Korea, with delivery scheduled for the third quarter of 2015.
The latest contract agreement includes an option for yet another ship of the same highly standardised design.
Meanwhile, Ensco DS-8 and DS-9, also based on the GF12000 model, are scheduled for delivery next year.
Ensco’s chairman, president and CEO, Dan Rabun said of the latest order that it reflected the continuing robust market for such tonnage.
“We continue to see very strong demand for rigs in existing deepwater markets, along with growing demand from emerging exploration areas.
“Operators are also showing high interest in this iteration of the Samsung DP3 drillship, due to its advanced design and capabilities that improve drilling productivity and fuel efficiency – two key factors that affect the operator’s project costs.
“We have a track record of providing rigs that allow our customers to improve performance and operate efficiently, and the advances on these most recent drillship orders are again all about helping our customers succeed.
“Our strategy of fleet standardisation further benefits our customers by providing consistency in systems and operational excellence.”
Measuring 230m (755ft) length overall, by 38m (125ft) breadth, Ensco DS-10 will be equipped with a 1,250-ton hoisting system.
Like the DS-8 and DS-9, the new unit is to have advanced capabilities in order to meet the needs of ultra-deepwater drilling in water depths to 3,657m (12,000ft) and a total vertical drilling depth of 12,192m (40,000ft).
It will be initially outfitted to work in water depths to 3,048m (10,000ft).
Key features include: retractable thrusters; enhanced safety and environmental features, key among which will be a 15,000psi (pounds per sq.in) subsea well control system with seven rams, plus the ability to accommodate a second BOP stack.
Other features will include improved dynamic positioning capabilities, plus advanced drilling and completion functionality, including below-main-deck riser storage, triple fluid systems and offline conditioning capability.
A 165-ton active heave compensating construction crane will enable the deployment of subsea production equipment without interference with ongoing drilling operations.
DS-10 will also be fitted with enhanced client and third-party facilities with living quarters for up to 200 personnel.
Ensco’s four active DP3 (dynamic positioning Class 3) drillships are currently working in the US Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and West Africa sectors. Three are contracted into 2016 and the fourth is contracted into 2018.
A fifth drillship, Ensco DS-7, scheduled for delivery later this year, is contracted to Total into 2016.
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