The lower hull of semi-submersible rig Urca is on its way to Brazil, where it should arrive in about 30 days. The structure is being transported by the Dockwise Vanguard vessel using dry tow system, which is safer, faster and more efficient, and contributes to meet the delivery term of the vessel from Sete Brasil to Petrobras in 2016. In January 2014, the hull of Urca will disembark in Brasfels shipyard of Keppel Fels, in Angra dos Reis, State of Rio de Janeiro, which will continue with the installation work of the blocks of the upper structure of the rig, currently being built in Brazil, as well as with the integration, commissioning and testing services of all its systems.
 
"This is a significant milestone for the purpose of ensuring the delivery of the rig within the contracted terms and the final quality of the vessel. The lower hull is being strictly embarked within the timeframe specified in the construction contract with a high level of advanced finishing, which will accelerate the final works of full assembly of the rig, and meet the schedule that provides for the start of operation of the rig in December 2015", says João Carlos Ferraz, president of Sete Brasil.
 
The hull of the drilling rig Urca, a result of a partnership between Sete Brasil and Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás (QGOG), is the first coming to Brazil. The rig, however, will be the second equipment item for drilling in ultra-deep waters that will be delivered by Sete Brasil to Petrobras - the first vessel will be the drillship Arpoador, currently under construction at Jurong shipyard, also with an estimated of 55% of Local Content. Brasfels will build five other semi-submersible rigs commissioned by Sete Brasil and its partners QGOG, Odebrecht Óleo & Gás and Petroserv, which are: Frade, Portogalo, Magaratiba, Bracuí and Botinas.
 
The rigs will be built according to the DSS™ 38E project from Keppel, being the first platform expected to be delivered in December 2015, and the last before the end of 2019. The equipment will be able to drill to a depth of 10 thousand meters (in 3 thousand meters of water depth). The contracted models will feature a total length of 108 meters, operating displacement of approximately 45 thousand tons, and ability to receive a crew of up to 160 people.
 
Sete Brasil has contracted the building of 29 rigs for exploration in ultra-deep waters in five Brazilian shipyards (Brasfels, Jurong, Aracruz, Rio Grande, Enseada do Paraguassu, and


Atlântico Sul). Among them, 28 will be chartered to Petrobras and will have a minimum local content ranging between 55% and 65%. Currently, Sete Brasil is the largest company in the world in fleet of drilling rigs in ultra-deep waters, a project that will generate, among direct and indirect jobs, over 205 thousand permanent positions in the country.
 
For Chow Yew Yuen, COO of Keppel O & M, this is an important milestone of the partnership established in 2012 between the Brasfels, a Brazilian unit of the Singaporean shipyard, and Sete Brasil. "The whole operation was carried out within the design terms and specifications. This is an important moment for Brazil, which will receive the lower hull of the first Brazilian rig for drilling the Pre-Salt fields", said the executive.
 
After being completed, the rigs will be chartered to Petrobras for 15 years for drilling activities in the Pre-Salt layer, in the southeastern Brazilian coast. Of the six vessels, Urca and two other platforms will be operated by Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás SA, two by the Petroserv SA, and one by Odebrecht Óleo e Gás.