Partners Agree to Build World's Largest Jack-Up Rig
The "Dubai Expo 2020 NS" mega Jack-up rig will be environmentally friendly and measure 101 by 110 meters and meet all regulations in force in the Norwegian and UK sector of the North Sea, according to Drydocks World’s announcement.
A giant Jack-up rig, one promised to be environmentally friendly and ready for service in the North Sea, soon will be under construction. Dubai-based Drydocks World announced Jan. 14 that it has signed an agreement with Drill One Capital for building the "Dubai Expo 2020 NS" mega Jack-up rig. Gusto MSC, based in the Netherlands, is a major partner and has designed the CJ 80 rig.
According to Drydocks World, it will be the first of this design to be built and the largest Jack-up rig ever built. It will be built for operating in harsh environments in the North Sea at a maximum water depth of 175 meters with a 25-meter air gap.
"From inception, the UAE government strategy and Dubai in particular are focused on putting our industry at the forefront and whatever we do to be in the lead and globally number one. Today, we have entered into the next stage of technology and design by building a green rig, which takes the oil industry to a new level," said His Excellency Khamis Juma Buamim, chairman of Drydocks World & Maritime World, in a news release. "It is a demonstration of DDW capability to build world-first mega projects, as we demonstrated in previous projects such as The Shell Prelude FLNG turret, Solan storage tank, and DolWin beta, and now building this global first and largest rig. It is a testament from the offshore industry on the DDW capability to deliver and puts us into the lead and the yard of choice. We seek to develop our capabilities in building highly specialized units for the offshore oil and gas sectors and are gearing up for more innovative and technology-intensive projects that would serve the emerging needs of the energy sector."
The rig will be classed by DNV and will meet all rules and regulations in force in the Norwegian and the UK sectors of the North Sea. The rig will cut fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent, will generate fresh water using waste heat from engine cooling, and will provide hot water that is heated from exhaust waste heat. It will employ LED lighting where possible and will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and Nox by as much as 25 percent compared with similar rigs, according to Drydocks World.