Davie Signs $C35-Million Petrobras Rig Contract

Davie Shipbuilding Limited of Lauzon, Quebec, Canada, announced r e c e n t l y that it has signed a $35-million Canadiandollar contract with Petrobras (Brazil's national petroleum company) for the construction of a 300-foot marine jackup drilling platform. The contract, signed in Rio de Janeiro, follows by four days contracts signed in Houston, Texas, between Global Marine and Davie for two jackup rigs worth a total of $68-million Canadian dollars.

The Petrobras contract is significant for Davie in that it is the largest model rig contracted by Davie, and signifies a broadening of the geographical market to South America for Davie's successful rig construction program.

All previous rigs built by or on c o n t r a c t with Davie are with U.S.-based corporations.

The Brazilian contract extends Davie's rig orderbook to the end of November 1981, and provides a solid base upon which to build future ship construction, repair, and industrial contracts. Davie's next open delivery date for jackup rigs is now May of 1982, and Davie is confident of continued success in the rig market given continuance of current Canadian government support programs.

Davie, which last year delivered two 250-foot jackup drilling rigs, has contracts for five rigs to be delivered through 1980 and 1981. These include three rigs for Global Marine Drilling Company, scheduled for delivery in September '80, May '81, and June '81; a delivery to Salen Offshore in May '80, and the Petrobras contract for November '81. The total value of the contracts is worth approximately $150 million Canadian.

The delivery of three rigs in 1981 should have the effect of increasing manpower requirements of 300 workers by midsummer 1980.

The contract announced is for a model 116-C (cantilevered) marine jackup drilling rig of Marathon L e T o u r n e a u design. The 116-C can work in water depths of 300 feet and withstand wind velocities of up to 125 mph. The platform has facilities for 84 persons.

Other stories from January 15, 1980 issue

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