DSME names four new Songa Offshore semi-submersibles

DSME names four new Songa Offshore semi-submersibles

SEOUL, Korea -- The naming ceremony for four semi-submersible rigs -- Hull No. 3031, 3032, 3034, 3035 -- ordered by Norwegian-based Songa Offshore was held on Oct. 24. The rigs were named as Songa Equinox, Songa Endurance, Songa Encourage and Songa Enabler, respectively.

DSME and Songa Offshore signed these contracts on two separate occasions in September 2011 and again in May 2012. These semi-submersible rigs are able to drill down to a maximum depth of 8,500 m in waters up to 500 m deep, and operate in the bad weather and intense cold of the North Sea.

These rigs, called Category-D, are new generation drilling and well intervention rigs, specifically constructed for Norwegian Continental Shelf operations. They are outfitted with winterization and heat tracing systems making them uniquely prepared for the harsh weather conditions of the North Sea.

These rigs applied DNV DYNPOS – ER regulation, which is a much stricter regulation when compared to a generalized positioning system such as the Dynamic Positioning System.

Following delivery, these four Statoil-operated rigs will commence drilling work off the Norwegian Coast and in the North Sea.