GE's Power Conversion Technology to Power Seadrill's West Mira Semisubmersible

• Hyundai Heavy Industries to Build New Semisubmersible Drilling Platform for Seadrill Ltd., Powered and Propelled by GE

• Customized Solution Satisfies Regulatory and Operational Requirements

• Designed for Harsh Environment Operation off Canada and Greenland

 

GE’s Power Conversion business has signed a multimillion dollar contract with shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of Ulsan, South Korea. GE will supply electric power, propulsion systems and drilling drives for a new semisubmersible drilling platform HHI is building for Seadrill Ltd., which is expected to work in either the North Sea or offshore Canada.

“By using our diesel electric power and propulsion technology, the components like generators, drives, controllers and switchboards will be optimized to provide an efficient system arrangement and increase overall system availability. This is a necessary requirement for reliable position-keeping capabilities and for electrical drilling operation needs,” said Paul English, marine vertical leader, GE’s Power Conversion business.

 

The sixth generation semisubmersible, based on a Moss Maritime CS60 design, will be built in accordance with Norwegian regulatory body Det Norske Veritas’ (DNV) dynamic positioning DP3 class—the highest notation in terms of design to withstand specified instances of equipment failure.

West Mira, a sixth generation ultra-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig, will be capable of drilling wells up to 40,000 feet deep in up to 10,000 feet of water. This makes the rig one of the most technically capable semisubmersibles in Seadrill's fleet.