Wärtsilä has been contracted to supply the power and positioning system for two new drilling rigs ordered by Songa Offshore AS, the Norwegian arm of the Cyprus-based offshore drilling company. The cat D semi-submersible rigs are tailor designed for use by Statoil in mid-water segments, and are being built at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard in South Korea.
The contract for the power and positioning system was signed in November 2011 and includes a total of six 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines (picture) in V-configuration with ancillaries, and six Wärtsilä FS3500 main steerable thrusters, as well as the integration of the entire system for each rig. Additionally, the engines and thrusters will be equipped with the company’s condition monitoring system. Delivery will begin in 2012 and the first rig is scheduled to be operational during 2014. The company also has an option for two further rigs.
IMO Tier 2 Compliant
The semi-submersible rigs are custom designed for efficient year-round drilling, completion, testing and intervention operations in harsh environments and arctic conditions. They will be operated on the Norwegian Continental Shelf by Statoil, the international energy company headquartered in Norway. The rigs meet the Det Norske Veritas Clean-Design criteria, meaning the engines are IMO Tier 2 compliant. Songa Offshore earlier took delivery of eight Wärtsilä thrusters for the "Songa Eclipse" semi-submersible rig in 2011.
Particulars
– Six 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines in V configuration
– Six Wärtsilä FS3500 main steerable thrusters Ancillaries
– GVA 4000 NCS cat D semi-submersible rig
– Length overall: 116 m
– Breadth overall: 97 m
– Water depth: 100-500 m
– Drilling depth: 8,500 m
– Power generation 6×5.6MW = 33.6MW
– Thrusters: 6x4MW = 24MW
– Mooring system: 8/(12) Lines
– Accommodation (single cabins): 130
