Shell takes Constellation rig for work offshore Brazil

Shell do Brasil, a subsidiary of the UK-headquartered energy giant Shell, has booked a semi-submersible rig, owned by Constellation Oil Services, a Brazilian drilling contractor, for a short-term assignment in the Campos Basin off the coast of Brazil.

Constellation has signed an agreement to sublet the Alpha Star rig for 30 days during the ongoing contract with Brava Energia, former 3R Petroleum, which enabled the rig to work on the Papa Terra field.

Shell intends to use the rig to carry out electric submersible pumps (ESPs)/subsea pumping module (MOBO) exchange interventions in up to four fields in the oil major’s Parque das Conchas fields of the Brazilian deepwater block BC-10 block, within the Campos Basin.

The BC-10 subsea operations asset team is managing and executing the rig-based ESP replacement intervention campaigns or MOBO interventions. Constellation’s semi-submersible started its contract with the oil major several days ago.

Beginning its operations with Constellation in 2011, Alpha Star is a semi-submersible drilling rig, with dynamic positioning, and capable of drilling in water depths of up to 9,000 feet (approximately 2.743 meters).

“We thank all employees, suppliers and partners who are part of this story, welcoming the entire Shell team,” highlighted Constellation.

With a drilling capacity of up to 30.000 feet (approximately 9.144 meters), the rig is equipped to operate in water depths typical to the Brazilian pre-salt. The FPSO Espirito Santo works at Shell’s asset in a water depth of 1,789 meters.

SBM Offshore struck a deal with MISC last week to exchange ownership interests in two FPSOs, including this one, which will become part of the Dutch player’s fleet.

The rig booking with Shell comes months after the Brazilian firm inked a five-year deal with HMH to improve the operational efficiency of three semi-submersible drilling rigs, including Alpha Star.

The deal enables HMH to provide integrated maintenance support for the blowout preventers (BOPs) of the three ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs offshore Brazil.