Drillship Profile: Tungsten Explorer

By Maritime Reporter & Engineering News January 28, 2014

Ultra Deepwater Drillship designed for drilling operation down to 40,000 ft. (12,120 m) & in water depths to 10,000 ft. (3,048 m)

The Tungsten Explorer is an ultra deepwater, dynamically positioned mobile offshore drilling unit (Drillship). The primary areas of activities of the Drillship shall be in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa and Brazil. The drillship has drilling equipment on the topside with a continuous main deck and forecastle deck. Three engine rooms which house six diesel engines (7,000 kW x 720 rpm) are arranged aft in the hull. Thruster machinery spaces are arranged in engine rooms and in the forward machinery space of the hull, with each space containing motors and controls for azimuth thrusters of 5,500 kW used to dynamically position or propel the drillship. While the drillship is equipped with a ship’s anchors for temporary mooring, no spread mooring system is fitted for station keeping. The hull contains no permanent ballast.
The “double” hull (i.e., inner bottom and wing tanks arranged) exhibits no sheer but has straight camber on the outboard portion of its weather or main deck. A large moonpool is situated with its center slightly forward of midships; a flap is arranged at its aft end to prevent wave slap in the moonpool during transit.
An accommodation house is situated inside and above the forecastle; a helideck is located on top of the house. The drilling equipment has been arranged on top side area mostly. From fore to aft, the modules are as follows: mud module for mud pump, sack storage, cement unit, liquid mud storage and auxiliary machinery, substructure with derrick, substructure buildings for shale shaker and BOP control and riser & well test platforms for riser racking, ROV and well test equipment. A pipe rack is arranged on the roof of the mud module.

Tungsten Explorer Main Particulars
Hull No.    3615
Model test     MARIN
Flag    Bahamas
IMO number    9631735
Length (o.a.)    238 m
Length (b.p.)    230 m
Breadth molded    42 m
Depth molded to freeboard deck    19 m
Depth molded to upper deck    19 m
Width of double skin, side:    6.6 m
Width of double skin, bottom    2.7 m
Draft, scantling    13 m
Draft, design    12 m
Tonnage    68,000 gt
Displacement    102,000 mt (operating)
Deadweight, design    65,000 metric tons
Deadweight, scantling    74,000 metric tons
Speed, service (85 %MCR output)    12 knots
Bunkers, diesel oil    9,400 cu. m.
Water ballast    58,235 cu. m.
Daily fuel consumption,
Main engine only    184 t/day @ 100% load
Classification     American Bureau of Shipping + 1A, (E), “Drillship”, *AMS, *ACCU, *CDS, *DPS-3, SH-DLA, UWILD, CRC.
Main engine    6 x STX-MAN-B&W, 14V32/40
Output of each engine    7,000 kW x 720 rpm
Propellers    6 x Rolls-Royce
Main engine driven alternators    6 x HHI HSJ7 1209-10P
Emergency Generator Set    STX-MAN 7L27/38(engine)
Cranes    4 x Liebherr, Slewing Bearing type
Special lifesaving equipment     Norsafe - 6 sets and
    70 persons (95kg)
Ballast control system    GE Power Conversion (Former Converteam)
Water Ballast Treatment System    PANASIA (700 m3/hr x 2)
Complement     200
Bow thrusters    3 x Rolls-Royce, Aquamaster Model UUC 455
Output (each):     5,500 KW
Stern thrusters    3 x Rolls-Royce, Aquamaster Model UUC 455
Output (each):     5,500 KW
DP & Integrated Automation System    GE Power Conversion (Former Converteam)
Fire detection system    Tyco
Integrated bridge system     Furuno

(As published in the January 2014 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News - www.marinelink.com)