Rolls-Royce will power its 100th drillship after winning a contract to deliver propulsion systems to the world’s largest drilling company Transocean.
Having won orders to supply propulsion systems for seven new drillships totalling close to £100 million, the landmark figure is a culmination of a successful few months for the British manufacturer.
With its market share in the sector already at 70%, the specialist vessels are commonly operated in the oil and gas fields off the coasts of Brazil, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.
Anders Almestad, Rolls-Royce’s president of offshore operations, said: “We are proud to be a strategic partner in the continuing development of the world’s drillship fleets, and particularly delighted to reach the significant milestone of powering 100 of these highly specialised vessels which are at the forefront of oil and gas exploration.
“Rolls-Royce has the largest range of thrusters for this sector of the marine market, and we welcome our customers’ continued confidence in our technology, products and service.”
The propulsion systems are used to propel the vessels to and from drill sites and accurately maintain their positioning when carrying out drilling operations.
Their high power is crucial in maintaining position and a drillship typically features six such thrusters, and the thrusters can be changed underwater, avoiding the downtime and expense of a visit to drydock.
Aside from 100 drillships, Rolls-Royce has also delivered high-powered thrusters to 80 semi-submersible drilling rigs.
