Norwegian group Beacon Holdings has signalled plans to build a new harsh environment ice-class semisubmersible rig, ordering a unit from China’s Yantai CIMC Raffles shipyard.

The yard will build the rig, to be named Beacon Atlantic, using a Global Maritime GM4-D design. Delivery is due in the fourth quarter of 2016, with the rig to be equipped to operate in a water depth of up to 500 m (1,640 ft) and drill to a maximum well depth of 8,000 m (26,240 ft). Specifications include dynamic positioning, and an eight point mooring system, with the unit to use drilling equipment supplied by NOV (National Oilwell Varco).

Designed to operate in harsh environments including the North Sea, Barents Sea and the Arctic, the rig is the second to use a GM4-D design from Global Maritime, following the North Dragon rig that is also currently under construction at the shipyard.

North Sea Rigs AS, based in Stavanger, is managing the construction of both units, Yantai CIMC Raffles said.

  • The shipyard is also to build a new drilling unit for another Norwegian company, Norshore Holdings AS, headquartered in Bergen, Norway. That unit is due for delivery in the second half of 2016 and will be equipped as a multi-purpose drillship.

CIMC Raffles stated this latter contract – which includes options for three more – is for a small-sized unit designed for riserless drilling and well intervention operations, and will be designed to work globally.

Offshore