Switzerland-based ABB has received a contract worth $160m from Singapore’s Jurong Shipyard to deliver the main electrical systems for seven advanced drill ships, which will be deployed in the deep water oil and gas fields, offshore Brazil.
Under the contract, ABB will design, supply, supervise installation, test and commission the complete electrical systems.
The equipment will include generators, distribution switchboards, transformers, drives and motors to power the ships’ thrusters and drilling systems.
The integrated electrical package will provide a reliable power supply to subsystems onboard ships and enable the operators to maximise their energy efficiency.
ABB said the solutions for delivery have met safety standards defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission and comply with strict International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations to ensure uninterrupted drilling operations.
Built by Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz at its shipyard on the central eastern coast of Espirito Santo, the vessels will be used to drill wells in the offshore pre-salt fields off the southeast coast of Brazil.
The seven ships are the first in a series of high-efficiency drill ships, which have been designed for ultra-deep water operations.
As part of the orders booked in the fourth quarter of 2012 and first quarter of 2013, ABB is expected to deliver the equipment to the shipyard in 2013, while the first ship will be delivered to Sete Brazil in the second quarter of 2015.
The drill-ships will be chartered to Petrobras for 15 years, while three of the ships will be temporarily owned and operated by Odfjell for Petrobas, and three by Seadrill.