Delivering safer semi-submersibles Prosafe

DELIVERING SAFER

SEMI-SUBMERSIBLES

Prosafe is the world’s leading owner and operator of semi-submersible accommodation and service rigs for the offshore oil and gas industry. Philip Yorke looks at how the company is pioneering the construction of the world’s most advanced and efficient harsh environment accommodation rigs and its ongoing commitment to sustainable development.

Prosafe has an outstanding track record for safety and efficiency gained from its demanding oil and gas operations worldwide. The Norwegian company is headquartered in Larnaca, Cyprus, and owns 11 semi-submersible accommodation and service rigs and one accommodation/ jack-up rig. Furthermore, it is developing the world’s most advanced harsh environment semi-submersible accommodation rig, which is currently under construction at the Jurong Shipyard in Singapore.

Prosafe’s rigs typically provide accommodation for 139-812 people and offer highquality welfare and catering facilities, as well as workshops, offices, medical services and deck cranes. In addition, each rig provides a comprehensive range of lifesaving and firefighting equipment. The company’s specially constructed rigs are positioned alongside their host installations and are connected by means of a telescopic gangway in order that rig personnel can freely walk to work. Furthermore, all Prosafe’s activities fall within the latter part of an oil field’s life cycle, which is the most robust sector in terms of its relationship to oil price fluctuations.

With six dynamically positioned units, five anchored rigs and one jack-up rig, Prosafe’s fleet of semi-submersibles is versatile and able to operate efficiently in almost all offshore environments. It is currently the clear leader in the provision of offshore accommodation and service vessels designed for harsh and semi-harsh environments and, in particular, in hurricane regions such as the Gulf of Mexico. The company has unparalleled experience in the oil and gas field industry ranging from operating gangways connected to fixed installations, to FPSOs, TLPs, semis and spars. Existing offshore operations are located in waters around Norway, the UK, Denmark, Tunisia, West Africa and the Philippines. This is in addition to offshore operations currently active in the USA, Russia, north and south west Australia, the Gulf of Mexico and more recently Brazil.

Today, Prosafe employs almost 500 people and is listed on the Oslo stock exchange, and in 2010 the company posted an operating profit of USD 221.1 million.

Pioneering harsh-environment service rigs

Towards the end of 2011, Prosafe entered into a unique turn-key contract for the design and construction of what will be the world’s most advanced and efficient harsh environment accommodation rig. This is

being built to the GVA 3000E design standard and equipped with a DP3 (dynamic positioning) system as well as incorporating a 12 point monitoring arrangement. This advanced design will allow for operations to take place in harsh environments in both DP and anchored mode, thus providing optimum cost-efficiency and flexibility.

This new, cutting-edge unit will have the capacity to accommodate 450 persons in fully furnished single-man cabins. The Jurong shipyard in Singapore, where Prosafe’s new harsh environment rig is being built, is one of the world’s leading constructors of semi-submersible rigs. To date the Jurong yard has delivered 13 semi-submersible DP vessels and currently has three on order. Prosafe selected the Jurong Shipyard due to its well demonstrated capabilities in this specialised area and its strong commitment as a high quality, reliable rig builder.

Delivery of the new rig is scheduled for the second quarter of 2014 and its all-in cost, including yard cost, owner furnished equipment, project management and financing is estimated at USD 350 million. Prosafe’s most advanced rig has been ordered on the back of a positive market outlook. With the addition of its new harsh environment rig, Prosafe reinforces its leading position in the high-end accommodation rig segment and strengthens the company’s ability to meet its clients’ needs related to increasingly complex operations in an expanding oil and gas market.

Sustainable development brings long-term success

Prosafe’s long-term commitment to sustainable development and the protection of the environment gives it a competitive advantage. As a socially responsible company, Prosafe is committed to maintaining high ethical, social, environmental and governance standards, as well as creating environmental values for the benefit of clients, shareholders and humankind alike. The company sees sustainable development as meeting today’s energy requirements without destroying the opportunities for future generations to fulfil their own needs. For Prosafe, the word ‘sustainability’ also stands for viability, which means the balance between economic, environmental and social objectives. Subsequently the company integrates these elements into its daily business activities and decisions, in order to ensure long-term, viable development for all concerned.

A company spokesman said, “We believe that excellence in social responsibility will give us a competitive advantage and will contribute to our long-term success. It helps us to attract and retain the best people and maintain successful working relationships with our clients, suppliers and the authorities. It also enables us to build on our track record for goodwill and to support the countries in which we have ongoing operations. We also comply fully with local and international governmental laws where rules and regulations are applicable to our business. In addition, we are committed to operating in accordance with responsible, ethical and sound business principles. Our corporate citizenship is built upon transparency, stakeholder dialogue and integrity, in the conduct of our everyday business.” n