Semco Maritime has been chosen to prepare the West Elara jack-up rig for a new assignment for ConocoPhillips (photo: Seadrill)

Semco Maritime has won the contract to upgrade the West Elara jack-up rig. Following upgrade, the rig will sail out to undertake a long-term contract in the North Sea for ConocoPhillips, starting up in 2018. West Elara, owned by North Atlantic Drilling, will call at the Semco Maritime rig yard at Hanøytangen, Bergen, at the end of the year after expiry of current contract with Statoil.

“We are pleased that North Atlantic Drilling has chosen us for the assignment. This is a major and important order for Semco Maritime and the largest assignment for our yard in Hanøytangen so far. The order also confirms the increased activity in the market of rig upgrades, which we have seen in the second half of 2017. The signs are positive and give rise to cautious optimism in a continually challenged market”, says Senior Vice President Lars Skov, Semco Maritime Rig Projects.

“After an evaluation of tenders, Semco Maritime was appointed the successful contractor. We are looking forward to a strong and successful cooperation with Semco Maritime on this project, being an important milestone prior to the rig starting its operations at the Ekofisk field,” says Alf Ragnar Løvdal, CEO of North Atlantic Drilling.

“West Elara is currently operating in the North Sea and will finish the assignment in November at the earliest. A rig specialists team will then start the modification work at Hanøytangen,” explains Vice President Nikolaj Vejlgaard, Semco Maritime Rig Projects Project Management: “A team of 10 people are currently projecting and planning the assignment. In addition, we expect to employ a good 150 people for the actual work of upgrading and adapting the rig to the specific drilling job for ConocoPhillips.”

West Elara is hired on a long-term contract for the Ekofisk field. The modern rig accommodates 120 people and was built in Singapore in 2011. The rig is designed for operation in areas with hard weather and water depths up to 150 metres.

The Semco Maritime yard at Hanøytangen includes several dock areas, among these a 125x125-metre dry dock and fully equipped quay areas with water depths from 17 to 100 metres.

Tags: ConocoPhillips, North Atlantic Drilling, Seadrill, Semco Maritime