Rolls-Royce leads market in rig propulsion

15 February 2006

This large deep water semi-submersible rig will have eight 3,300kW azimuth thrusters and an eight point mooring system from Rolls-Royce. It is being built for Eastern Drilling by Samsung in Korea and will be employed by Smedvig Drilling in harsh environments including the far north

The upsurge in construction of semi-submersible drill rigs and drill ships, following several years with little activity, has confirmed the market-leading position of Rolls-Royce in providing propulsion equipment.

“In the course of the past few months orders for 122 large Ulstein Aquamaster azimuth thrusters have been placed, with deliveries ranging from 2006 to 2008 to suit rig building schedules. Thirteen semi-subs account for 104 of these units, each rig having eight thrusters for propulsion and dynamic positioning, and the other 18 units will be installed in drill ships, six thrusters per vessel. When engines and deck machinery for some of these rigs are also taken into account, Rolls-Royce has won contracts worth more than GBP 100 million in this market in the past six months,” says Helge Gjerde, President for Offshore Propulsion.

All these thrusters are type UUC, a well-proven design in which the steerable leg with its nozzle and propeller can be mounted and dismounted underwater, without needing to drydock the rig.

“Most of the rigs and drill ships are being built in Asia for US and Norwegian owners, the exception being two semi-subs ordered in Norway,” notes General Manager - Sales Jarle Hessen. “ We are happy that several old customers, both operators and yards, have come to us for the propulsion units for their latest newbuildings. The UUC355 thruster is the popular choice, specified for most of the semi-subs on order, rated at between 3,300kW and 3,800kW per unit depending on the rig design and its proposed operating conditions, the exception being two rigs to be equipped with the larger UUC 405 thrusters with individual ratings of 4,500kW.”

“The drill ship market is also active, and we are providing the thruster outfits for three vessels. Two of these will have six of the type UUC405 thrusters each, with individual ratings of 4,500kW, while the other vessel will have substantially larger units; six UUC 455 thrusters totalling 33,000kW”