International oil and gas services specialist HS Ocean Group (HSOG) has been awarded a multi-million dollar refurbishment and upgrade of a high-specification jack-up drilling rig at its facility at Labidco Port, La Brea in Trinidad.
HSOG’s La Brea facility in Trinidad is ideally placed to capture work from its surrounding countries like Suriname, Guyana and Venezuela becoming a hub for Oil and Gas related projects in the region. In addition to work gained from its Caribbean neighbours it is also ideally located to attract work on assets that are in transit from South America to North America.
HSOG is using its deep water quay to deliver significant financial and time savings to Rowan Companies – a major provider of global offshore contract drilling services.
The refurbishment of the Rowan Gorilla III rig should also bring a significant economic boost to Trinidad by utilising a 300-strong local workforce and local supply chain.
HSOG’s innovative approach mitigates risk and reduces the overall project cost for its client, by repairing ‘in country’.
This approach avoids extensive transit and downtime normally associated with delivering the asset to the traditional repair centers located in the Gulf of Mexico.
HSOG’s Managing Director of Projects John Dunn is leading the experienced management team and has been collaborating with the client for several months, fully integrating and successfully delivering a detailed set of work scopes in advance of project award. This phased approach mitigates the risk of contract variations and ensures a fully aligned collaborative approach to the project.
HSOG delivers offshore oil and gas projects worldwide, and has used its expertise to develop this cost-effective solution across a number of strategically located MODU service hubs worldwide. HSOG has service hubs in the UK, Trinidad, Gibraltar, South Africa, Namibia, Malta and Nigeria, reducing the transit times and overall operational costs for clients across the globe.
The Gorilla III project will see a range of works being undertaken within the defined 90 day out of service period. One of the sizable scopes is the inspection, repair and refurbishment of the spud cans, while the platform is supported by a semi submersible “crutch” barge alongside. This approach allows underwater works to be completed without the use of a traditional dry dock.
Other works will include leg liners, replacement shale-shaker house and a complete upgrade of the accommodation, along with significant steel, electrical and pipe replacement scopes.
Lee Foster, HSOG chief operating officer, said: “Our collaborative and pioneering approach of early engagement with our client at the initial stages ensures alignment and mitigates risk through the project lifecycle.
“Then taking our considerable global expertise, backed with local content to the rig in country, minimises the rig’s transit time and cost, increasing the effective days of work alongside the MODU service hub. This approach saves our clients money and allows them to undertake more work within their allowable Out of Service period.”
Andy Boardman, HSOG’s chief executive officer, said: “Our aim is to provide our clients with the option of repairing their rigs where they drill, so in this case ‘Drill in Trinidad, repair in Trinidad’” - this benefits the local economy and is politically very compelling. Our efforts are very much focused upon working with our clients saving them money, mitigating risk and exceeding their project delivery expectations.”
Source: HSOG
