Foresea, a leading offshore drilling company, has completed the installation of innovative technologies on the Norbe VIII rig. Designed for deepwater and ultra-deepwater operations, the vessel can now also operate in shallow waters and under different operational configurations, with precision, minimal impact on the seabed and a high level of safety. The technologies were developed in partnership with Petrobras and involved three international manufacturers.

“The Norbe VIII is now ready for new campaigns in water depths of less than 400 metres and will take on a strategic role in the Foresea fleet: working on well abandonment and decommissioning projects, involving wells that have completed their productive life and must be permanently closed,” explains Foresea COO Heitor Gioppo (pictured).

The rig has received a suite of technologies that, although already available individually, have never before been integrated into a single system. This world-first integration is what sets the project apart. The technologies include the Reactive Flex Joint, developed by TechnipFMC to reduce loads on wellheads. It works in conjunction with K-BOS, developed by Kinetic: a shear ram installed in the blowout preventer (BOP) that can quickly and safely cut through all the elements used in the well. This safety component can significantly reduce the time required to disconnect from the well when necessary.

The system also includes Neosight, developed by Stress Engineering. It analyses the riser in real time and calculates safe-disconnection envelopes based on environmental data. Combined with sensors that monitor wellhead fatigue in real time, it enables continuous monitoring of operational integrity. Working in coordination with the BOP control system, these solutions give the rig an unprecedented response capability, enhancing operational safety and reliability.

The project followed the same technological approach as the BOP anchoring system pioneered by Foresea on the Norbe VI semi-submersible rig, which received an international award at OTC Brasil 2023.

“The aim of developing these technologies is to enable dynamically positioned rigs to operate on shallow-water wells without anchoring to the seabed, with greater agility and less environmental impact. What we have done on the Norbe VIII advances the BOP anchoring technology developed earlier. We have achieved a level of precision and safety control that had not existed anywhere in the world before,” says Foresea Innovation Manager Alessandro Pasini.

About Foresea

Foresea provides offshore drilling solutions and operates its own fleet of rigs: ODN I, ODN II, Norbe VI, Norbe VIII and Norbe IX, all of which have active contracts. Its portfolio also includes the management of two third-party drilling assets, Hunter Queen and Polvo-A. The company holds API Q2 international quality and efficiency certification across its entire fleet and has the market’s highest operational uptime rate.

Foresea operates in deep and ultra-deep waters for Brazil’s offshore upstream oil and gas industry. Its core values include high operational performance, with respect for the safety of its personnel and the environment, as well as strong partnerships and trust with its clients. The company upholds ESG principles and follows rigorous environmental, social and governance practices. For more information: www.foresea.com.