FELS Completes Rig Conversion
Far East Levingston Shipbuilding Limited (FELS) has completed the $73million conversion of a semi-submersible drilling rig into a Floating Production System (FPS).
Reading & Bates Development Company, which awarded the contract, gave FELS a bonus of US$1.8 million for completing the contract according to the specified deadline.
The FPS Nanhai Tiao Zhan was modified and upgraded to enable it to operate at China's Liuhua Oil Field in the South China Sea for 10 years.
FELS added more than 3000 tonnes of steel parts to the existing structure, such as two pontoons between the lower hulls and sponsons on the four corner columns. The main deck was also extended on all four sides, and a new deckhouse was constructed. In addition, FELS installed systems for drilling, workover and completion of subsea wells as well as a new mooring system.
Reading & Bates Development Company is the general contractor appointed by Amoco Orient Petroleum Company and its partners China Nanhai East Oil Corporation and Kerr McGee, which are the operators of the oil field.
