ABS Energy News January 2008



	China’s First Deep Water Drilling Rig Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) has won the contract to build China’s first deepwater drilling rig for China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) with ABS awarded classification. *Read more.*
	Apexindo Receives Habitability Notation In a follow up to last issue’s story First Drilling Rig to Earn Habitability Notation Adam Moilanen, ABS Pacific Vice President Southern Region, (right) presents Hertriono Kartowisastro, President Director of PT Apexindo Pratama Duta Tbk, with a crystal Excellence Award for having the first mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) to receive ABS’ habitability notation, HAB+.
	MIS Jackup Trio for ABS The third newbuild jackup unit classed by ABS at the Maritime Industrial Services Co. Ltd. Inc. (MIS) yard in the United Arab Emirates is under construction. The rig (Hull #107) is based upon the Friede & Goldman (F&G) Super M2 design. Steel fabrication is continuing on Hull 107 and three hull blocks have been completed since the steel cutting ceremony at the end of October 2007. The expected delivery is early 2010. Hulls 104 and 105 are also currently under construction in the same yard. See photos.
	Offshore Safety Focus at International Maritime Conference The Third International Maritime Conference on Design for Safety was held in the United States for the first time in late 2007. *Read more.*
	Regulatory Guidance for Offshore Supply Vessels Offshore supply vessels (OSVs) have become larger and more technologically advanced to meet the demands of complex deepwater field developments. Day rates for all types of OSVs are high, attracting owners to invest in new tonnage or expand their fleets. Analysts forecast the global OSV fleet will continue to rise through to 2020. *Read more.*
	Middle East FPSO Conversions Drydocks World, the largest single repair complex in the Middle East, located in Dubai, is the site of many floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) units under conversion, reports ABS Middle East Southern District Manager, Joseph Brincat. ABS is involved with several of these conversions. *Read more.*
	World’s Largest Gantry Crane Tai Sun China’s Yantai Raffles Shipyard recently completed construction of the world’s largest gantry crane designed to help build semi-submersible and other huge offshore vessels. The crane, Tai Sun, has a total lifting capacity of 20,000 metric tons. The crane is expected to result in a reduction of more than 2,000,000 man hours for each semi project. Read more.


	Renewed Interest in Floating Concepts for Handling Stranded Gas ABS is seeing a resurgence of interest in floating solutions for the transportation of natural gas aimed at capturing “stranded” gas reserves around the world. Although natural gas is abundant, more than one-third of global gas reserves are said to be stranded by their location or field size without commercially viable access to world markets. Estimates place these stranded gas reserves at more than 3,000 trillion cubic feet. Read more.
	ABS Vice Chair for Centre for Marine CNG ABS’ Patrick Chaney, Manager of Gas Ships, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Centre for Marine CNG Inc. ABS has granted approval in principle to all the leading compressed natural gas (CNG) technical concepts and in 2004 announced Guidance Notes for Building and Classing Ships Carrying Compressed Natural Gas to assist industry designers and operators on practical applications of novel concepts in CNG technology. ABS was a sponsor of the 2007 International Marine CNG Forum which attracted more than 100 delegates from a dozen countries. ABS also provided a one-day seminar on liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport issues.
	BG LNG Carrier Named The ABS classed Methane Nile Eagle, a 145,000m³ liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for BG Group built at Samsung Heavy Industries, Co. Ltd., was recently named in a ceremony at the Korean shipyard. Over the next decade LNG trade is forecasted to grow by 4 to 8 percent per year, tripling the quantity traded today. The LNG carrier fleet will consist of more than 300 ships by end of year 2008 and projections indicate a steady growth increase of between 17 to 22 ship deliveries a year which would create a worldwide LNG fleet of approximately 480 vessels in 2016. ABS LNG services.
	Qatar LNG Training ABS continues to assist operators of specialized liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers with training having written one of the industry’s most comprehensive courses for those involved with gas transport. Topics cover design, construction and operational maintenance issues. Raffaele Piciocchi, Manager of ABS Gas Group in Korea and a Principal Surveyor, conducts a class in Doha, Qatar, with clients from RasGas, QatarGas, Qatar Navigation, MOL, Qatar Shipping Company, QGTC and Qatar Petroleum.


	ABS Technology Sponsor for DOT Visit ABS at its exhibition stand 328 at the Deep Offshore Technology Conference, Feb. 12-14, Houston, TX, USA. Floating facilities, riser technology, station-keeping and mooring as well as subsea developments are topics on the program. ABS is proud to be the Technology Sponsor for this event. Full conference details. Visit ABS at booth #328. Be our guest with a *complimentary exhibit floor pass.*
	Annual OSJ Conference Features ABS ABS’ Denise McCafferty, Manager of Corporate Operational Safety & Evaluation, will present at the Annual Offshore Support Journal Conference, Feb. 26-27, London, UK. McCafferty will discuss the groundbreaking work toward developing crew habitability for OSVs. Operators interested in learning more about this soon to be released guide can contact Denise at dmccafferty@eagle.org. Full conference details.
	ABS Technology Sponsor for Offshore Asia The Offshore Asia Conference & Exhibition 2008, March 17-19, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, provides the venue for addressing oil and gas development challenges in the region. A new conference track on multiphase fluid transportation and flow meter technologies is being offered. *Full conference details.*


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