ABS, provider of classification services to the offshore industry, has published a guide to help drilling asset owners carry out rig layups. The new ABS Guide for Lay-Up and Reactivation of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units provides requirements for stacking units based on the type of lay-up to be carried out and provides valuable information for moving rigs back into active operation.

“With global drilling fleet utilisation down to nearly 70%, asset owners are laying up rigs, and they are looking to ABS for guidance,” says ABS Executive Vice President of Global Offshore Ken Richardson. “Our Lay-Up Guide provides information for maintaining assets while in lay-up status and outlines a process for laying up rigs and moving them back into service in a way that is streamlined and straightforward.”

The Guide includes information on cold-stacked and warm-stacked assets and introduces “Enhanced” status for laid-up units, a designation that notes the lay-up location and procedures for the unit have been reviewed and verified by ABS in accordance with this Guide.

The ABS Guide provides requirements that cover the location, mooring arrangements, a risk assessment and the level of emergency response capability needed and includes requirements for reactivation that verify the unit is in a safe condition to move onsite and begin operations.

Tags: ABS