Pride International Selects Vetcogray's Advanced Marine Riser System for New Deepwater Drill Ship
FLORENCE, ITALY - February 7, 2008 - Pride International, one of the world's largest offshore drilling contractors, has selected the latest version of the MR-6 marine riser system from VetcoGray, a GE Oil & Gas business, for use on a new deepwater drill ship that will be completed in 2010.
VetcoGray will supply two MR-6H SE Marine Riser Systems, which offer improved safety and efficiency for the offshore drilling industry. The system combines innovative design with the field-proven technology of the previous MR-6 dog style marine riser systems and the H-4 subsea wellhead connector locking mechanism. The VetcoGray riser is designed to operate in water depths of 12,000 feet.
The MR-6H SE system, which received a Spotlight on New Technology Award at the 2007 Offshore Technology Conference, provides fully automated connection capabilities, as hydraulic units on the spider engage a cam ring on the box to actuate six dogs into the profile of the pin. This creates a full pre-loaded connection with an efficient and effective load path.
The fully automated capabilities of the MR-6H SE can eliminate the need to place people in a potentially hazardous situation. The pin is lowered into the box and guided into place with an internal guide pin; then the spider automatically makes the connection.
The MR-6H SE connection can be made or broken in less than a minute, and the string can be made up in about half the time of a conventional flanged riser system - key features that can mean substantial cost savings for the ship owner and the operator.
"The safety and time-saving features of our new marine riser technology are particularly important today with the industry trend toward drilling in deeper and deeper water," said Dave Tucker, Chief Operating Officer of VetcoGray. "With drilling rig rates at an all-time high, greater drilling speed and efficiency can significantly reduce costs."
The two MR-6H SE systems will be manufactured at the GE Oil & Gas VetcoGray facilities in Houston, and will be shipped in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the second quarter of 2010.
Pride International, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is one of the world's largest offshore drilling contractors, operating a fleet of 67 rigs, including two deepwater drillships, 12 semisubmersible rigs, 28 jackups, 13 tender-assist and platform rigs, five managed deepwater rigs and seven Eastern Hemisphere-based land rigs. The company has three ultra-deepwater drillships under construction with expected deliveries beginning in 2010.
About VetcoGray
VetcoGray (www.geoilandgas.com/vetcogray) is a GE Oil & Gas business specializing in upstream drilling and production technology for the onshore, offshore and subsea oil and gas industry. The company's 5,000 professionals are part of the GE Oil & Gas team that has provided advanced technology products and services for production, LNG, pipelines, storage, refinery and petrochemicals for more than 100 years.
For more information, contact:
Gabriele Peri or Sara Hassett GE Oil & Gas +39 055 423 8280/3361 gabriele.peri@ge.com sara.hassett@ge.com
Ken Darling or Howard Masto Masto Public Relations +1 518 786 6488 kenneth.darling@ge.com howard.masto@ge.com
Company Information: Name: GE Oil & Gas Address: 3135 Easton Turnpike City: Fairfield, State: CT ZIP: 06828-0001 Country: USA Phone: 055-423-8280 http://www.ge.com
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