Helix Energy Solutions has confirmed an order for a second semisubmersible light well intervention rig from Sembcorp Marine subsidiary Jurong Shipyard.
The US$346 million order is scheduled for delivery mid-2016, and will be built based on a design jointly developed by Sembcorp Marine Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Marine, and Helix.
The rig, named Q7000, will be able to perform tasks including conventional and extended top hole drilling, subsea construction, decommissioning well intervention, coiled tubing operations and twin ROV deployment.
The Q7000 will be a dynamic positioning (DP) class 3 unit, and will be able to work in deepwater operations worldwide, including the North Sea and West of Africa.
In a recent presentation Helix predicted total subsea wells installed worldwide, since 1990, will reach close to 8000 in 2017.
Giving an outlook on future business, Helix said utilization was expected to remain strong for its well intervention fleet.
Its well intervention fleet comprises the Q4000 semisubmersible, and Well Enhancer, Skandi Constructor (on charter), and Seawell vessels.
On order are the Helix 534, a conversion project due in service Q4 2013, the Q5000, due in service H1 2015, and the Q7000, due in service late 2016.
Q4000 has a backlog thru 2015 and on-going negotiations to extend contracted work into 2018
Seawell, Well Enhancer, and Skandi Constructor are fully booked through 2014, with commitments into 2015.
Skandi Constructor was expected to start well intervention work in August, after installation of its well intervention equipment.
Helix 534 has a full backlog for remainder of 2013, starting in the Gulf of Mexico, thru 2014, with backlog building into 2017
Q5000 has an initial backlog of 270 days annually over first five years of operations
Image: The Q5000
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