VIDEO: Huge Maersk rig heading for Norway seen offshore Namibia

February 23, 2017

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February 23, 2017

Danish offshore driller Maersk Drilling posted a video on Thursday via social media channels showing one of its XLE rigs offshore Namibia on its way to Norway.

The rig in question is the Maersk Invincible jack-up rig being hauled by Offshore Heavy Transport’s heavy lift vessel, the Hawk.‎

The XLE rig was spotted at Walvis Bay, Namibia on its way to Norway to begin a contract for Aker BP.

According to AIS data, the Hawk along with the massive Maersk rig began its journey from Busan, South Korea, on December 31 and was offshore Namibia on February 20. The Hawk is expected to arrive in Stavanger, Norway, on March 15.

The Maersk Invincible is the fourth and final XL Enhanced ultra harsh environment jack-up rig and was delivered from Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea in January 2017.

Here’s the rig as seen in the shipyard back in 2016.

After the delivery, the Maersk Invincible began its journey to the North Sea and, upon arrival, will start a five-year firm contract with Aker BP for plug and abandonment work on the Valhall field in the Norwegian North Sea.

In its February fleet status, Maersk said that the contract begins in April 2017 and could last as long as ten years since it has five one-year extension options as well. The estimated contract value for the firm contract is $812 million, including mobilization from South Korea to Norway, but excluding cost escalation.

As far as the XLE jack-up rigs go, they represent a total investment of $2.6 billion. The Maersk Invincible is the only XLE delivered by DSME while the first three were delivered from the Keppel FELS shipyard.

According to Maersk Drilling, with a leg length of 206.8 m (678 ft) they are the world’s largest jack-up rigs and are designed for year-round operation in the North Sea, in water depths up to 150 m (492 ft).

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Offshore Energy Today Staff