ABS selected to class new GSF Ultra-Deepwater semisubmersible
  by: OilOnline
  Wednesday, April 26, 2006

ABS has been selected to class GlobalSantaFe’s (GSF) latest generation ultra-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig, GSF Development Driller III, to be built at Keppel FELS Ltd. shipyard in Singapore.

The state-of-the-art newbuild rig differs from the previous semisubmersibles contracted by GSF with ABS - the GSF Development Driller I and GSF Development Driller II.

The previous rigs were based on the Friede Goldeman ExD design. The GSF Development Driller III is being built to Marine Structure Consultants (MSC) proprietary design the DSS-21, a joint venture between Keppel FELS Deepwater Technology Group (DTG) and MSC. Increased efficiencies are gained by incorporating vertical riser storage allowing for a large free deck area. Suited for both exploration and development drilling, as well as major well remedial workover operations, the rig is capable of drilling down to 30,000 ft. (9,144m) and operating in water depths of up to 10,000 ft. (3048m) in environments such as offshore Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa or South East Asia.

According to ABS Singapore Country Manager Thomas Tan, deepwater environments demand greater position-keeping ability. To address this need ABS will class the unit with the notation DPS 2, indicating a redundant dynamic positioning system. The DSS-21 design is self-propelled. The full class notation will be designated *A1(P), *CSDU, *AMS, *DPS-2, *ACC.

According to industry analysts, the demand for semisubmersibles is expected to rise from 141 to 167 over the next three years. This increased demand is also evidenced by the large number of orders for mobile offshore drilling units of all configurations, including jackups and new generation drillships that have been placed in recent months with shipyards in Singapore, China, Korea and the U.S. 85 percent of these orders have been placed to ABS class standards reflecting the continued dominance of the society within the offshore sector. In addition to longstanding ABS clients such as GSF, Transocean, Ensco and Maersk Contractors, Norwegian owners such as Sinvest, SeaDrill, and Awilco AS are also currently building to ABS class.

The ABS MODU fleet comprises some 76 percent of the entire worldwide rig fleet, representing some 515 drilling units classed or built to its standards.