Sembcorp Marine subsidiary Jurong Shipyard has signed two contracts, worth US$540 million each, to build two drillships for a subsidiary of Transocean Ltd (Transocean).
The contracts include options for three additional units for the same company.
Scheduled for delivery in 2Q 2017 and 1Q 2018, the drillships will be built based on Jurong Shipyard’s Jurong Espadon III design, its next generation of high specification drillship, with advanced capabilities for operational efficiency and worldwide ultra-deepwater development drilling operations.
Specifically designed for enhanced drilling operations, the drillships are equipped with state-of-the-art drilling facilities, a large moon pool to cater for a larger riser angle and bilge boxes designed for superior motion characteristics. The drillships also feature larger deck space with enclosed riser bay and round mud pits inside the hull for operational efficiency and safety. Equipped with DP-3 (Dynamic Positioning Class 3) capabilities, the drillships will be capable of operating at 12,000 ft water depth and drilling to depths of 40,000 ft, with accommodation facilities for a crew of 220 personnel.
Transocean currently owns and operates six drilling rigs built by Sembcorp Marine’s yards, including three jack-ups and one semi-submersible delivered by PPL Shipyard and two semi-submersibles built by Jurong Shipyard.