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ABS Classes Rowan’s
Newly Christened Scooter Yeargain Tarzan Design Jackup
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BS awarded class certification for the Rowan
Scooter Yeargain jackup rig in late April, having
completed its review of the |
newly christened rig within record time, says ABS Technical
Coordinator Linda Hansen. |
"We successfully expedited the project, getting submittals to
appropriate individuals for resolution in a well-planned manner in
less than half the time,” said Hansen.
She adds that while ABS started getting drawings for Scooter Yeargain
in March 2003, the bulk of the submittals and engineering review
process occurred between October 2003 and March 2004.
Hansen attributes this success to effective communications with
Rowan’s LeTourneau yard in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where Scooter
Yeargain completed fabrication, and thorough on-site support
from ABS surveyors.
“We met the client’s deadline while maintaining an
unprecedented level of close contact with the rig designers,”
said Hansen.
Bret Montaruli, ABS manager of Offshore Engineering, advises that
this exceptional achievement is part of an overall ABS initiative
to expedite its classification review process to better support
fast-track projects industrywide.
He advises that ABS is in the initial stages of implementing new
software, Engineering 2000 (O2E), which will change ABS’ engineering
review process while allowing a paperless, electronic evaluation
and approval. The system also will make project information and
resources available electronically.
Classed as an XA1
Self-Elevating Drilling Unit, the Scooter Yeargain jackup
is the first of four newly designed units called Tarzan Class, all
of which will be built at the LeTourneau yard. ABS has already begun
the design review process for classing the second Tarzan Class unit,
dubbed Bob Keller.
Tarzan Drills Deep
Rowan specially designed the Tarzan units to drill deep
gas wells down to 40,000 feet in shallow water ranging from 15 feet
up to 300 feet.
While the Rowan Gorilla and Super Gorilla design units are capable
of drilling deep gas wells down to 30,000 feet, about 15,000 feet
deeper than the industry’s aging jackup fleet, these units
with their long-legged, high-power specifications are intended to
drill in deepwater harsh environments.
The Tarzan design is a lighter-weight version of the Super Gorilla
XL designs, explains Hansen, with the hull half the size of the
Super Gorillas. Both designs originated from Rowan subsidiary LeTourneau.
“LeTourneau took the powerful components used on the Super
Gorilla rig and installed them on a vessel half its size,”
said Hansen.
ABS also reviewed the rig’s jacking system, which is critical
to safe operation at sea, as it elevates and supports the entire
rig load, says Hansen.
“Scooter Yeargain meets the design criteria for
safe operation of the jacking system, providing an effective rack-and-pinion
locking system,” said Hansen.
Powerful Engines
Drive Mud Pumps
The Tarzan design is equipped with five Caterpillar engines,
model 3516B HD, capable delivering a total output of 10,750-horsepower,
considerably more than the Gorilla design.
“Rowan has packed a lot of power into its new Tarzan design,
making it robust to take on deep-gas drilling,” said Hansen.
This increased power is necessary to drive the three mud pumps,
the industry’s largest with each at 3,000-horsepower, and
to handle the long strings of pipe ( 40,000 feet long) required
for the greater drilling depths.
The LeTourneau yard is under way with fabrication of the Bob
Keller jackup, which is expected to be ready for work in September
2005. Construction of the third Tarzan Class unit should begin as
the second one leaves the yard, with all four deliveries scheduled
to complete by 2008.
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