“Xin Guang Hua” with the deadweight of 98 thousand tons is the second largest semisubmersible vessel for carrying heavy cargo in the world (free deck space is 211 m x 68 m).
The vessel can carry goods weighing up to 85 thousand tons. At the moment, the vessel Xin Guang Hua is contracted to transport the hull of the drilling platform “Appomattox” from South Korea to the United States (Texas). It was reported to update the Appomattox release date. The platform is designed to develop a field in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract for its transportation is a part of a framework agreement between Shell and COSCO.
Shell Offshore has signed a contract with COSCO Shipping Company Ltd. for a unique technological operation. According to the information resource Offshore Energy Today, the ship owner undertakes to deliver the body of the drilling platform Appomattox from South Korea to Ingleside (Texas).
This semisubmersible platform is designed for the development of the Appomattox field in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract for its transportation is a part of the framework agreement between Shell and COSCO.
Press release about COSCO
Representatives of COSCO told that the platform body weighing 41.2 thousand metric tons would be transported on a supergiant specialized vessel Guang Hua Kou. This ship is now being completed at the COMEC shipyard in Guangzhou (China) and will be launched in late 2016. The total carrying capacity of the newest ship will be 98 thousand tons.
Shell recently adopted a final investment decision (FID) on the start of the development of the deepwater “Appomattox” drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico. As a part of this decision, the construction and subsequent installation of Shell’s eighth and largest semisubmersible platform in the region was initiated.
Drilling will be carried out in the areas “Appomattox” and “Vicksburg”. The complex, which four-column case will be delivered to Ingleside, will consist of a base platform and an underwater system of cluster drilling in six directions. The task of the platform will be to drill 15 production wells and five water injection wells.