Page 39: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Nov/Dec 2023)

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simply impossible to reach this emission reduction tar- overall savings.” get by 2030. He also says that, for example, fuel consumption, and also taxes on carbon emissions, are also taking part when it

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO BUILD?

comes to lowering the operational costs.

It’s been a while since anyone ordered a newbuild HE

ROBOTS TAKING OUR JOBS? semi-submersible drilling rig. For reference, Awilco Drill- ing ordered two from Keppel in 2018 and 2019, respec-

NOT EXACTLY.

tively, for $425 million each. These have yet to be deliv- We reminded Wijning that OPEX will also be lowered ered as the contracts have since been cancelled leading to by having to pay fewer salaries, as there will be fewer peo- the two parties to seek dispute resolution through arbitra- ple onboard. Are robots coming for our jobs?

tion. More Here: https://bit.ly/3GfqND5 He replies: ”Looking at personnel, you see on all sides

Back to the Huisman rig. Once that moment comes, the scarcity of personnel in the drilling industry. So need- and a drilling contractor orders a Huisman green harsh- ing less personnel, I think it's a big deal simply because the environment semi-submersible drilling rig, what can they personnel is not there anymore. expect when it comes to the construction costs? Wijning points out a trend within the offshore drilling

Wijning explains: ”Well, I cannot mention numbers sector where many of the offshore drilling workers are re- here, but I can say that we estimate the cost for the whole tiring, or switching to the renewable energy sector, while at unit to be similar as to a new built traditional design.” the same time one can say that the interest of the younger

He explains that while the technology on Huisman’s rig generation to join the drilling industry right now is not on might add up to the cost, overall, the rig is smaller, which high levels.

is then reducing the costs. A 2017 survey by EY, found that 62% of Generation “So basically, we think that in the end, CapEx will be Z respondents considered a career in oil and gas “unap- more or less the same, but also said before, it's not only pealing”, and 39% ranked it as “very unappealing,” com- about the CapEx, of course, that's counting in day rate, pared with only 4% of young respondents who said it but also the time per well is a signifcant amount in the was “very appealing.” november/december 2023 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 39