Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading solutions provider, has been contracted to supply the power and positioning system for two new drilling rigs ordered by Songa Offshore AS, the Norwegian arm of the Cyprus-based offshore drilling company. These so called cat D semi-submersible rigs are tailor designed for use by Statoil in mid-water segments, and are being built at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co.Ltd (DSME) shipyard in South Korea.

The contract for the power and positioning system was signed in November 2011 and calls for Wärtsilä to supply for each rig a total of six 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines in V-configuration with ancillaries, and six Wärtsilä FS3500 main steerable thrusters, as well as the integration of the entire system. Additionally, the engines and thrusters will be equipped with Wärtsilä’s unique condition monitoring system. Delivery will begin in 2012 and the first rig is scheduled to be operational during 2014. Wärtsilä has an option for two further rigs.

“The proven reliability and superior efficiency of the Wärtsilä propulsion solutions were the major factors in the award of this contract. Calculating the average load profile for deepwater drilling rigs, the efficiency is approximately three per cent better than those offered by competitors. The high efficiency enables fuel cost savings and has also clear benefits in terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). Furthermore, the local Wärtsilä service network in Norway will provide full support for the equipment,” says Magnus Miemois, Vice President at Wärtsilä Ship Power, Offshore.

The semi-submersible rigs are custom designed for efficient year-round drilling, completion, testing and intervention operations in harsh environments and arctic conditions. They will be operated on the Norwegian Continental Shelf by Statoil, the international energy company headquartered in Norway. The rigs meet the Det Norske Veritas CLEAN-DESIGN criteria, meaning that the Wärtsilä engines are IMO Tier 2 compliant.

Songa Offshore is an existing customer of Wärtsilä, having earlier in 2011 taken delivery of eight thrusters for the “Songa Eclipse” semi-submersible rig.