Two jack-up drilling rigs owned by the offshore drilling contractor Maersk Drilling recently arrived at Semco Maritime’s Invergordon shipyard facility.
Semco Maritime informed on Friday that the 2009-built jack-up rig Maersk Reacher will be berthed in Semco’s Queens Dock facility for an undisclosed duration, carrying out necessary upgrades and modifications.
The rig up until recently worked for BP under a contract that is set to expire in September 2016. Earlier this year, the drilling contractor decided to lay off 70 employees in relation to the Maersk Reacher going off contract thus adjusting to a lower level of activity.
The second rig, the recently constructed jack-up rig Maersk Highlander, will be at Semco Maritime’s quayside for a short time. Following its arrival from Sembcorp Marine’s Jurong Shipyard in Singapore, the rig was named earlier this week.
Prior to the naming ceremony, Semco carried out various commissioning tasks and it also provided support for various disciplines, including electrical, mechanical and construction.
The rig, of a Friede & Goldman JU2000E design, will soon mobilize to the Culzean development in the UK sector of the North Sea under a long-term contract with Maersk Oil.
Maersk Highlander is categorized as a 400ft rig, with 30,000ft drilling depth and HPHT capabilities. The rig has accommodation capacity for up to 150 personnel.
Semco Maritime also added it is nearing completion of a number of scopes of work for the Paragon Offshore’s semi-submersible rig, Paragon MSS1, prior to the rig’s departure Cromarty Firth on a drilling contract.
Offshore Energy Today Staff