Norway, Cyrpus based rig operator Songa Offshore suffered a BOP equipment failure on one of its new Cat D semisubmersible drilling rigs as it was readying to start operations for Statoil.
The Songa Endurance started drilling operations on 31 December 2015 under an eight-year drilling contract with Statoil at the Troll field. While performing a final test on location, the rig experienced BOP equipment failure, says Songa. The firm says the root cause has been identified and all required spare parts are on the rig with repairs ongoing.
The Songa Endurance is the second of four new Cat D semisubmersible drilling rigs Songa is having built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in South Korea. Songa Equniox, the first of the Cat Ds delivered, has also undergoing equipment repair. It started operations 7 December 2015, also on the Troll field, but between 24-31 December was waiting on weather or on downtime – how much of the period is being attributed to either issue is being discussed, says Songa.
Songa Offshore took delivery of its third Cat D rig, the Songa Encourage, on 16 December 2015. The rig is en-route from Korea to Norway and is currently transiting between Singapore and Mauritius. A fourth rig, the Songa Enabler, is due for delivery early this year.
Meanwhile, the Songa Dee achieved an operational efficiency of 100% and an earnings efficiency of 98% working for Statoil in Norway. Songa Delta achieved an operational efficiency of 100% and an earnings efficiency of 99% for the month working for Statoil in Norway.
Songa Trym is currently being stacked, while marketed for new employment, following early cancellation of the drilling contract.
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