The Company’s two semisubmersible drilling rigs, Aker Barents and Aker Spitsbergen, are designed by Aker Solutions ASA. The design (Aker H-6e) is a dynamically positioned harsh environment and ultra deepwater 6th generation semi-submersible drilling rig.
The design of these rigs represents a pioneering advance on the well-established Aker H-3 and Aker H-4.2 concepts, which have been developed over several decades. Also created to meet the most demanding requirements, this solution features large and flexible drilling and storage capacities as well as ultra-modern equipment. The rigs have excellent motion characteristics in harsh environments, which ensure efficient operation under weather conditions which compel other units to shut down. That makes a significant contribution to meeting oil company requirements for cost-efficiency. The development of Aker H-6e has focused on efficient drilling system arrangements and overall layout with due consideration to safety, operability, maintenance and material handling aspects.
The design features an expanded topside area and additional payload and storage capacity compared with similar rigs. The design gives flexibility for both harsh environment exploration, development drilling and subsea development operations. With its double RamRig drilling packages, the rigs are designed for exploration and development drilling of wells down to 10,000 meters and for operations in water depths down to 3,000 meters. According to recognized drilling contractors the double RamRig could provide an estimated 20-40% operational efficiency gain compared to single rig operations. The robust hull design, especially in terms of air gap and structural strength, is suitable for drilling in harsh environments as stability ensures increased safety in rough seas. The crew accommodations’ flexible design and layout can be adapted to suit operational requirements. Furthermore, the rigs are winterized making it possible with year round operations in cold climate and arctic areas up to the iceline.
