Jurong Shipyard set to deliver drilling rig to Atwood Oceanics

The ultra-deepwater semi-submersible rig rated for 10,000 feet water depth is Atwood Oceanics’ second rig order with Jurong Shipyard.

Sembcorp Marine’s subsidiary Jurong Shipyard is on track to deliver the Atwood Osprey – a first of its class ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig – to Atwood Oceanics following its successful naming on Saturday.
Scheduled for delivery in early 2011, the Atwood Osprey will be deployed by Chevron Australia Pty, Ltd to the Greater Gorgon area in northwest Australia.

The 9th rig from the Friede & Goldman (F&G) ExD Millennium Class series built by Jurong Shipyard, the Atwood Osprey was specifically developed to meet challenging environmental conditions on-site and is a testament to the yard’s ability to enhance existing designs and overcome engineering challenges to meet owner’s requirements, according to a Jurong Shipyard report.

The Atwood Osprey, the first of two high-performance semi-submersible rigs contracted to Jurong Shipyard by Atwood Oceanics, was christened by Lady Sponsor, Mrs Patricia Springer, wife of Mr Kent Springer, Chevron Australia’s Drilling and Completions Manager, during a ceremony in Jurong Shipyard.

Following its naming, the Atwood Osprey will go through final testing and commissioning prior to its delivery. The moored rig will be capable of drilling up to 35,000 feet as well as operating in water depths of up to 6,000 feet with its own mooring equipment and 8,200 feet with pre-laid mooring, and has an accommodation capacity for 200 persons.

Atwood Oceanics’ second rig order with Jurong Shipyard, an F&G ExD Millennium Class dynamically positioned ultra-deepwater semi-submersible rig rated for 10,000 feet water depth, is currently under construction and is scheduled for delivery no later than mid 2012.

When completed, both of these units will be the most advanced drilling rigs in Atwood Oceanics’ fleet and will further strengthen the company’s position as a leader in the offshore drilling industry.

Mr Rob Saltiel, President and CEO of Atwood Oceanics, commented, “The Atwood Osprey is the result of our successful collaboration with Jurong Shipyard, Chevron Australia, and many equipment suppliers and service partners who have worked side-by-side with us to complete this project safely and on time. Atwood and Jurong have enjoyed a long and successful history of working together, and today marks another bright chapter in our productive relationship.”

Mr Wong Weng Sun, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sembcorp Marine and Managing Director of Jurong Shipyard, said: “We would like to thank Atwood Oceanics for entrusting us the construction of their two semi-submersible drilling rigs. Jurong Shipyard had since the late 70s carried out repair and upgrading for Atwood’s fleet, including the Atwood Southern Cross, Atwood Hunter and Atwood Falcon. This close relationship has resulted in a synergy that has been a contributing factor towards the successful execution of the Atwood Osprey project.”