DSME to build two drillships for Aker Drilling

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has inked an agreement with Aker Drilling to build two drillships, each worth about $600m, for delivery by the fourth quarter of 2013. Under the letter of intent, Aker Drilling Offshore Services has options with DSME for a further third and fourth drillships in 2015 and 2015 respectively. The ultra-deepwater drillships can drill wells up to 12,000 metres deep at water depths of up to 3,600 metres. “With our two existing rigs and the new drillships, we will have state-of-the-art units for safe, efficient and environmentally sound operations,” said Geir Sjoberg, ceo at Aker Drilling. Demand for advanced drilling units will increase in the coming years as future exploration will increasingly be in deep waters and harsh environments, according to Aker Drilling. By 2015, 13% of the offshore production will come from ultra-deep oil fields, compared to 3.5% in 2010.