Arctic Oil & Gas Directory: Vigor Marine completes work on Shell’s drilling fleet

Vigor Marine, subsidiary of Vigor Industrial, said June 27 that the Kulluk and Noble Discoverer set sail for the Arctic following completion of extensive environmental and safety upgrades.

The Kulluk, an ice-classed semi-submersible drill rig measuring 266 foot by 230 foot, arrived at Vigor’s Seattle yard in July 2011. Following the work done by Vigor Marine teams, it will operate with zero discharge in the Beaufort and Chuckchi Seas. Everything down to the sink water will be captured and stored. Even the blue and white paint scheme was chosen to accommodate the known preferences of whales.

The same care was taken with the Discoverer, a 512 foot by 86 foot ice-classed drill ship. The Discoverer arrived this April to undergo winterization and similar environmental upgrades. Vigor Marine mobilized a team of more than 500 skilled, quality-focused workers to complete upgrades that would normally take up to 6 months in just 10 weeks. In-house engineers worked closely with naval architects to accommodate additional requirements.

“Vigor’s work on the Kulluk and Discoverer has been outstanding,” said Curtis Smith, spokesperson for Shell Alaska. “Vigor’s capacity to provide the highest levels of quality work within our timeframe is impressive and continues to make them a valued partner in Shell’s Alaskan offshore operations.”