Shell Orders Untradeepwater Semi For Gulf Of Mexico Work

Shell Oil Co. unit Shell Deepwater Development Inc. (SDDI), New Orleans, has asked Reading & Bates Corp. (R&B), Houston, to build a moored semisubmersible drilling unit with ultradeepwater drilling capability for work in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Called the RBS-6, the unit will operate in the gulf during an initial 5-year contract period. However, its design is suitable for worldwide service, including in harsh environments of the North Sea, R&B said. The deal is covered by a letter of

July 7, 1997

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Called the RBS-6, the unit will operate in the gulf during an initial 5-year contract period.

However, its design is suitable for worldwide service, including in harsh environments of the North Sea, R&B said.

The deal is covered by a letter of intent and is subject to approval by both companies' boards, as well as execution of a drilling contract.

SDDI's new unit

R&B, a participant in an exploration joint-venture to build two world-class ultradeepwater drillships for Conoco Inc. (OGJ, May 12, 1997, Newsletter), will build the semi for SDDI at an expected cost of $235 million.

One of the drillships is dedicated to Conoco for 5 years to drill and evaluate 60 federal blocks in the gulf, and the second most likely will be placed in worldwide service.

R&B said the design of the RBS-6 builds on concepts pioneered in the construction of its Jack Bates semi, which was developed by the company's engineering department in conjunction with the engineering unit of Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (IHHI) Tokyo.

IHHI will build the RBS-6. To be delivered in 2000, it will have a variable deck load of 6,000 metric tons and will be capable of operating in as much as 8,000 ft of water in a moored configuration. The unit can be upgraded to work in as much as 10,000 ft of water.