The ENSCO 7500 Christened October 3 2000, Port Arthur, Texas

December 6, 2000 ENSCO International of Dallas took delivery of its new semisubmersible "ENSCO 7500" from Friede Goldman Halter of Port Arthur, Texas, today, marking the drilling rig's place in offshore history as the first to complete certificate of inspection requirements under the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) Alternate Compliance Program (ACP), as facilitated by ABS of Houston. Initiated in 1995, to date ACP has mostly benefited the U.S. shipowners eager to simplify the certification process. But through the cooperative efforts of the USCG and ABS, ACP certification is now available to offshore rigs, says Lynnda Pekel, ABS project manager for the "ENSCO 7500." "ACP provides rig owners with a 'one-stop shop' for certification, creating efficiency and improved reliability with fewer interfaces," said Pekel. Pekel adds that the ACP process builds industry confidence for timely delivery and safe operations.

"The USCG's Alternate Compliance Program proved to be straight-forward, efficient and cost-effective, involving less paperwork than we expected. All the people involved in the certification process contributed to the success of the 'ENSCO 7500' project."

The ABS-classed "ENSCO 7500" recently completed sea trials and is under a three-year contract with Burlington Resources Inc. of Houston. The drilling rig is currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico on East Breaks Block 599 in 3,300 feet of water.

The drilling rig is ABS classed +A1, AMS, column stabilized drilling unit with a DPS2 notation for dynamic positioning, meaning the vessel can sustain a failure without interruption of its station-keeping capability. The rig has a drill depth rating of 30,000 feet and can operate in waters up to 8,000 feet.

Bret Montaruli, P.E., ABS manager of Engineering Services, says the vision for ACP reflects the mutual mission of ABS and USCG: the protection of life, property and the natural environment. He reports that, in cooperation with USCG, ABS researched and developed the "ABS U.S. MODU (mobile offshore drilling unit) Supplement," a single-source document that facilitates the certification process on behalf of USCG.

The Supplement addresses criteria from existing USCG regulations deemed critical and not already provided for in ABS Rules-a primary area being life-saving appliances-and International Conventions.

Montaruli explains that both ABS and USCG cover many of the same issues-including vessel structure, stability, piping, electrical, mechanical, safety and other related issues-but in some cases take a different approach in the inspection or application of certain technical regulations.

"In essence, the Supplement provides the 'road map' for ABS to act on behalf of the USCG in certifying offshore rigs," said Montaruli.

To further simplify the certification process, ABS acts on behalf of the USCG to issue International Maritime Organization (IMO) MODU certification. The IMO MODU code-applied on behalf of the Flag State Administration-addresses additional safety issues and environmental requirements. The USCG, adds Montaruli, requires IMO MODU certification for all MODUs certified under ACP.

The ACP program, says Montaruli, contrasts other programs where ABS acts on behalf of the USCG, where Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs) are applied. Under ACP, ABS acts directly on behalf of the USCG, applying ABS Rules, International Codes and the U.S. MODU Supplement. As a further benefit to owners, under ACP, Title 46 of the CFRs are not applicable to the design of MODUs, which eases the regulatory burden for these units.

"Using ACP, customers may experience some cost reductions; however, the primary benefit is less interface with USCG, faster turn-around on reviews, faster decision-making, and, in general, a more streamlined workflow," said Montaruli.

ABS dedicated a team of more 20 people to facilitate the ACP process for the "ENSCO 7500." Disciplines included piping, electrical, mechanical, structural, stability, safety and fire protection and site survey. ABS Group, an affiliate of ABS, also contributed to the project, conducting risk analysis of equipment to ensure emergency service in the event of a failure.

ABS enhanced the value of the ACP process on the "ENSCO 7500 project with its vendor coordination program. ABS' vendor coordination program helps manage the certification process, providing a single point of contact for vendors and customers.

The vendor coordination program also helps ensure that equipment arriving at the yard is ABS-certified and complies with applicable Rules, standards and regulations. This effort, says Pekel, can avert delays on construction and assembly resulting from incomplete documentation or miscommunication on specifications.

"The ENSCO project included some 500 purchase orders from about 400 vendors. ABS' vendor coordination program helped to ensure communication among all parties for both technical issues and survey activities," said Pekel.

Montaruli adds that any document out of place could potentially hold up an entire project. "It's important to have a group of engineers whose sole purpose is to keep this process moving smoothly, and to have a documented system for future maintenance and replacement," he said.

ABS is presently developing a website with password access so owners can check vendor status on a daily basis. ABS expects to offer this service by early 2001.

Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property, and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.

For more information, contact:
Susan V. Gonzalez, ABS
(281) 877-5853 or sgonzalez@eagle.org