Contractors awarded jackup work, FEED project for modular rig

KCA DEUTAG has been selected by Woodside Energy to carry out a major front end engineering design (FEED) contract relating to a 3,000-hp modular platform drilling rig (MPDR) for the Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) development offshore Northwest Australia.

The MPDR will be capable of drilling large-bore gas wells up to 9,000-meter measured depth and of being transferred between dry tree units (DTUs) based on a tension leg platform design. The DTUs will be positioned over the Calliance and Brecknock fields, located approximately 270 km from the Kimberley Coast, Western Australia.

The Browse LNG development is a joint venture between Woodside, BHP Billiton, BP, Chevron and Shell.

FEED work has commenced and is being carried out by KCA DEUTAG’s engineering division RDS in its London offices. It will take approximately six months to complete and involve interfacing with Woodside’s two selected DTU contractors, Aker Solutions in Oslo and MODEC in Houston.

Neil Stevenson, KCA DEUTAG director, business development and commercial, said, “This is an extremely important contract for KCA DEUTAG for a new client, and on one of the largest offshore LNG developments in the world. It also provides a major breakthrough into the expanding Australia onshore and offshore drilling market and builds upon our established presence in Southeast Asia.”

Offshore Resolute to drill in Bangladesh for Santos

Santos has awarded Seadrill a contract for the Offshore Resolute jackup for operations in Bangladesh. The award is for a minimum duration of 130 days – a three firm well plus two optional wells. Commencement of operations under the new contract is scheduled for early Q3 2011 in direct continuation of the rig’s existing contract.

Noble Energy has awarded a contract to Atwood Oceanics for the Atwood Aurora jackup to drill offshore Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The contract, to commence in October 2011, is for an estimated firm duration of 240 days, plus an optional well with an estimated duration of approximately 40 days. With the award of this contract, the firm contractual commitments for the Atwood Aurora are expected to extend through May 2012.