Seadrill is exploring new options to fulfil a five-year drilling contract with Husky Oil for operations in Canada and Greenland, after it cancelled a contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the building of the West Mira, a sixth-generation ultradeepwater harsh environment semisubmersible rig.

Seadrill has told HHI that it has exercised its right to cancel the contract for the construction of the semisubmersible, which was due for delivery by year-end 2014.

Seadrill said, “Due to the shipyard's inability to deliver the unit within the time frame required under the contract, the company has exercised its cancellation rights.

“Under the contract terms, Seadrill has the ability to recoup the $168 million in predelivery instalments to the shipyard, plus accrued interest.”

Aberdeen Harbour has welcomed its largest vessel to date with the arrival of the Lewek Express pipelay construction vessel. At 162 m long, it has two reels capable of holding up to 3,000 mt of pipe up to 14-in. in diameter. The Lewek Express is carrying out work for Apache on the Aviat (32/7) Field development.

Offshore