MHI to Build for PGS

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) received an order for two vessels capable of three-dimensional (3D) seismic data acquisition for sea bottom resource exploration from Petroleum Geo-Services ASA (PGS). The order for the two vessels, which was signed on April 25 in Tokyo, was placed upon exercise by PGS of the option right that was provided when two same type vessels were ordered to MHI in April 2011. The two newly ordered vessels are scheduled for delivery in the first and second half, respectively, of 2015. With this latest order, MHI will build a total of four vessels to support PGS’s highly efficient deep water natural prospecting services.
The vessels ordered are the “Ramform Titan-class,” the newest generation in the Ramform series featuring advanced 3D seismic data acquisition/analysis capability. The 104m vessel has a wide 70m breadth. For quiet operation, the vessel adopts diesel electric for the main propulsion system. The vessel is capable for receiving supply at sea to enable a long-term exploration over an expansive area. The Ramform vessel tows multiple streamer cables from the vessel’s stern, and in fact the Ramform Titan-class vessels ordered by PGS have a wider stern compared with existing vessels; this feature permits deployment of a greater number of streamer cables—up to 24 lines—enabling exploration of a wider area at one time. MHI is currently building two previously ordered Ramform vessels at its Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works.

Kongsberg to Supply Seismic Operation Systems
The two new state-of-the-art Ramform Titan-class seismic vessels under construction at MHI for PGS will feature a significant delivery from Kongsberg Maritime including integrated navigation, Dynamic Positioning and an extensive back-deck handling systems package. The contracts, valued at  more than $50m, were signed by Kongsberg Maritime and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, following PGS’ decision to exercise its options to order a further two Ramform Titan-class vessels (3 & 4) from MHI. The new Kongsberg Maritime ‘Full Picture’ packages for PGS Ramform Titan-class vessels 3 & 4 are based on the systems supplied for the first two vessels, which are close to completion and expected to be delivered in 2013. Ramform Titan-class vessels 3 & 4 are scheduled for delivery in 2015 respectively.
The Ramform Titan-class includes a significantly upgraded GeoStreamer based seismic package and is designed to maximize the full benefits of the GeoStreamer towing efficiency.
Supporting the advanced PGS developed GeoStreamer seismic technology is an extensive delivery including back-deck handling systems, hydraulic and winch systems and integrated control system from Kongsberg Maritime subsidiary Kongsberg Evotec. These systems are designed for the safe and efficient handling of streamers and other equipment on the back-deck. A specialized redundant seismic track system will be delivered as part of the Kongsberg Maritime K-Pos DP class 2 system and Thruster Control Systems, while navigation for Ramform Titan-class vessels will be carried out using the advanced K-Bridge integrated bridge system.

(As published in the May 2013 edition of Marine Technologies - www.seadiscovery.com)