Keppel to build 5 more DSS 38E semis for Sete Brasil
Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), through its subsidiary Fernvale, has secured contracts with Sete Brasil Participações SA for the design and construction of five semisubmersibles for approximately US $4.1 billion. The semis will be based on Keppel’s DSS 38E design targeted for the deepwater “Golden Triangle” region of Brazil, Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. Deliveries are scheduled for Q4 2016, Q3 2017, Q2 2018, Q4 2018 and Q3 2019.
Keppel O&M secured a contract in December 2011 from Sete Brasil to build one semi to the DSS 38E design. Scheduled for delivery in Q4 2015, this first semi celebrated the strike steel milestone on 13 July 2012 at Keppel’s BrasFELS yard in Angra dos Reis.
With the most recent contracts, Keppel will be building a total of six DSS 38E semis for Sete Brasil. When completed, the rigs will be chartered to Petrobras for 15 years for drilling activities in the pre-salt areas of the southeast coast offshore Brazil. Three rigs will be operated by Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás SA, two by Petroserv SA and one by Odebrecht Óleo e Gás SA.
“We are pleased to ink the firm contracts with Keppel to design and build five additional semis for us at their established yard in Brazil. We and the drilling contractors are ready to work closely with Keppel on all six rigs, and I’m confident Keppel will deliver the quality rigs to us safely and on time,” Joao Carlos Ferraz, CEO of Sete Brasil, said.
“We are privileged to be given this significant opportunity to continue to play a key role in the development of Brazil’s oil and gas industry. The preparation work on the semis is well under way, and we are ready to embark on their construction at our BrasFELS yard in Brazil,” Tong Chong Heong, CEO of Keppel O&M, commented. “Looking ahead, our priority continues to be on the training and education of our current and additional work force for these projects in Brazil as part of our productivity enhancement strategy.”
The DSS 38E rigs are rated to drill to depths of 10,000 meters below the rotary table in up to 3,000-meter water depths. Its operational displacement is approximately 45,000 tons. Each rig will have accommodation facilities to house up to 160 people. The vessel is designed to stay in position via eight azimuthing thrusters, and the configurations comply with DPS-3 requirements. This design was jointly developed by Keppel’s Deepwater Technology Group and Marine Structure Consultants.
DSS is a trademark of Keppel.
