Songa Offshore sets new delivery dates for Cat D rigs

Songa Offshore has agreed upon final delivery dates for Cat D rigs with South Korea’s shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).

To remind, Statoil awarded the contract for construction of two Cat D rigs to Songa in 2011 and they were scheduled for delivery in 2014. The second order for two more Cat D rigs was signed in 2012 and these two rigs were scheduled for delivery in early 2015. Songa assigned the construction work for all four rigs to the DSME yard in South Korea.

In order to secure timely rig deliveries, Songa has sent its COO Mark Bessell to head the project team in Korea. The company says Bessell will head Korea Cat D project team until delivery of all four units has taken place.

According to the company’s 4Q 2014 report, the Songa Equinox is to be delivered mid May 2015 (construction progress in January 91 %). The Songa Endurance is to be delivered end July (progress 88.4%), while the delivery date for the Songa Encourage (progress 77%) and the Songa Enabler (progress 69.2%) is end September and end November 2015 respectively.

After delivery, these rigs will be chartered by Statoil for eight years, and they will provide services to the Norwegian Coast, the North Sea, and Polar Regions.

Songa is now finalizing plans to mobilize the rigs to Norway in a tow assist mode. The company will receive $40 million per rig from Statoil in mobilisation fee at the delivery from the yard.

Songa Offshore CEO, Bjørnar Iversen, said: “Over the last quarter and into January 2015, we have made good progress on the Cat D project and we have firmed up the final rig delivery dates with the DSME shipyard. We are satisfied that we don’t have any delay in our overall delivery schedule for the Cat D rigs and only minor changes to the overall project costs.

“The Company’s main focus continues to be on the delivery and the mobilization of the four Cat D rigs to the Norwegian Continental Shelf, where they each will commence their eight-year firm contracts with Statoil.”

Cat D drilling rig

The Cat D mid-water semi-submersible rig concept is designed for efficient year around drilling, completion, testing and intervention operations in harsh environment. This rig type is equipped with ATA. DP class 2&3 systems in 100 to 500 meters water depth. Furthermore, the cat D unit is a flexible rig design prepared for future deep water operations and arctic operations which can be implemented by minor post upgrades.

Offshore Energy Today Staff