Feature 4 | GULF OF MEXICO

Next generation deepwater drilling rig begins ops in US GoM

Discoverer Inspiration, a newbuild rig built by Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) was delivered to Transocean for operation by oil major Chevron in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM).

D

iscoverer Inspiration is a double- hulled dynamically positioned drillship capable of operating in

moderate environments and water depths up to 3657m using a 18.75inch 15000psi blow out preventer (BOP) and 21inch outer diameter (OD) marine riser. Te rig was delivered at the beginning of 2010. Discoverer Inspiration arrived in the US

Gulf of Mexico on 14 January 2010 and at that time was making final preparations to begin a five-year drilling contract with Chevron. Discoverer Inspiration is the third in a procession of five enhanced ultra-deepwater Enterprise-class drillships and she is designed to operate in water depths up to 3657m (12,000ſt) and construct wells as deep as 12,192m (40,000ft). Discoverer Inspiration is contracted to Chevron to operate in the US Gulf of Mexico, as is the first enhanced Enterprise-class drillship, the Discoverer Clear Leader, which began its drilling contract in August 2009. Discoverer Inspiration measures in

at 254m loa, beam of 38m and a height of 127m, and is considered to be a ‘next-generation’ drillship utilising the most advanced technologies available. Discoverer Inspiration sails under the

Marshall Islands flag, is classified by Det Norske Veritas and has the following notation:  1A1 Ship-shaped Drilling Unit HELDK-SH CRANE OPP-F EO F-AMC ICS CCO DYNPOS-AUTR TEMPSTORE DRILL CSA-2 BIS. Her sister vessels in operation at the moment are Discoverer

Clear Leader and Discoverer Americas.

Ken Adcock, project manager of

Transocean, said: “On behalf of Transocean I would like to congratulate DSME on the successful completion and on time delivery of the Discoverer Inspiration. DSME did an outstanding job in capitalising on lessons learned from the first two ships

Discoverer Clear Leader and Discoverer

38

Discoverer Clear Leader, sister drillship to Discoverer Inspiration for Transocean

(Credit: DSME/Transocean).

Americas in order to meet on time delivery for Discoverer Inspiration with all systems fully commissioned. Because of DSME’s performance on the Discoverer Inspiration project and their commitment to excellence, Transocean is looking forward to even better performance on our two remaining drillships Discoverer

Luanda and Discoverer India.”

Adcock added: “I sincerely thank

everyone involved at DSME for your hard work and dedication in delivering Discoverer Inspiration on time and fully commissioned while maintaining high standards in safety performance and quality.” Te vessel is an enhanced version of

DSME’s enterprise class drillship, which set drilling records in recent years and is equipped with the cutting edge power control automation system (Siplink System), dynamic positioning system; computer-controlled propulsion system as well as Transocean’s patented Dual Activity Drilling facility.

Particularly noteworthy, this is the

first time the power control automation system has been applied to a drillship and is expected to maximise electricity supply stability which is a priority for drillship operation. DSME has many years experience in

the high-tech semisubmersible drill rig construction sector which has made it possible for the shipbuilder to receive its first drillship order as a turnkey project. Meanwhile, the fourth enhanced

Enterprise-class drillship, Discoverer Luanda has completed quayside construction at the DSME shipyard at Okpo, South Korea, and is currently on sea trials. Designed to work in water depths of up to 2286m (7500ſt) and drill wells up to 12,192m, the rig has a seven-year contract with BP. Operations in Angola are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2010. Discoverer Inspiration will operate in the

US Gulf of Mexico for oil major Chevron under a five-year drilling contract. OMT

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