ConocoPhillips UK, a subsidiary of the U.S. oil company ConocoPhillips, has chartered three anchor handling supply tug vessels to tow the Sedco 712 semi-submersible drilling rig.
What is interesting is that Transocean’s latest fleet status report dated July 2016 shows the Sedco 712 drilling unit as under a contract with Talisman, now Repsol , in the North Sea. October 2016 is shown as the contract expiration date.
Offshore Energy Today has contacted Transocean, ConocoPhillips, and Repsol seeking confirmation that the rig is now under contract with ConocoPhillips.
ConocoPhillips’ spokesperson Emma Ahmed said: “We do not comment on day to day operations.”
Repsol Sinopec’s Nathaniel Mumford said:”We did have the 712 under contract earlier this year.”
He said the rig had been used to complete production wells on the new Shaw field, among other things. However, no date of the rig’s contract end was provided by the Repsol Sinopec spokesperson.
Transocean’s Manager of Corporate Communications Pam Easton reverted us back to the company’s fleet status report issued in July, which we’ve already quoted above.
“We issue the report quarterly,” said Transocean’s Pam Easton, without providing any info on the current status of the Sedco 712 semi.
AHTS charters
According to several shipbrokers, ConocoPhillips has hired AHTS vessels, Havila Venus, Stril Challenger, and Pacific Champion, to assist with the moving of the Transocean-owned drilling rig.
The charter start date for the three vessels has been shown to be Tuesday, October 11, ending on October 24. The Pacific Champion vessel, owned by Singapore’s Swire Pacific Offshore, has, according to VesselsValue, secured a dayrate of 7000 British pounds.
The Norwegian shipowners Havila Shipping and Simon Mokster have scored better deals, with their Havila Venus and Stril Challenger vessels hired on a dayrate of 8.500 British pounds each.
As for the Sedco 712 drilling rig, according to Vessel Finder, the rig is currently ‘at anchor’ in Invergordon, UK.
Offshore Energy Today Staff