'Al Ghallan' jackup leaves Drydocks World shipyard
Drydocks World, the international service provider to the shipping, maritime, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors, announced the completion of a major refurbishment carried out on National Drilling Company’s (NDC) Offshore Drilling Rig ‘Al Ghallan’. The project is part of a series of four rig repair and refurbishment projects signed with NDC in 2013. Before that, eight projects were completed. The numbers of projects carried out for NDC have progressively increased over the years. Mr. Abdalla Saeed Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of NDC underlined the importance of the modernization projects of the existing rigs in maintaining the best fit-for-service condition while extending its remaining life in the most reliable, safe, and cost-effective way possible. “These major refurbishment projects performed in parallel with the fleet expansion plans to obtain new and advanced offshore and onshore rigs are contributing considerably in strengthening NDC’s operational excellence and sustaining the maximum levels of safety, environment protection and effective performance. This will certainly enable NDC to serve its clients competently and always meet their operational requirements and achieve their satisfaction”, he commented. NDC's CEO expressed his appreciation for Drydocks World for their efforts and commitment to HSE and Quality. Rig Al Ghallan is a Self-Elevating Cantilever Type Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit with three triangular lattice type legs, which are 234 ft long. The work carried out on the rigs include modification of three spud cans of 160 tonnes each, including replacement of cathodic protection, painting, placing height markings, carrying out an inclining experiment and updating the rig’s operating manuals. Nearly 55 tonnes of steel were replaced in the tanks. Major refurbishment was carried out in the Accommodation. The rig’s three cranes were dismantled and overhauled. High pressure Koomey lines were replaced. Pipes around the rig were revamped. An engineering study was carried out based on which the ventilation in the Sewage Treatment Plant and transformer room were improved. Cantilever skidding gears, air hoists, air tuggers, raw water tower elevation system, gears and bearings and dump and equalizing valves were overhauled. Other work included MPI inspection of legs, painting of the derrick and blasting and painting of hull, tanks and mud pits.