The new generation

ultra deepwater development

semi-submersible

Ultra Deepwater 

drilling and

Development
MÆRSK DELIVERER On her way to a drilling assignment offshore West Africa. MÆRSK DELIVERER is the third in a series of three ultra deepwater development semi-subs 

delivered to Maersk Drilling in 2009 and 2010. The Dynamically Positioned rigs are designed for year round operations at water depths up to 3,000 m.
TYPE

DPS2/M, Column stabilised dynamically positioned semisubmersible drilling rigs with capability to attach to an 8-point 

pre-installed mooring system; provisions to attach to a 

12-point pre-installed mooring system

BUILT

KeppelFELS, Singapore

CLASS

American Bureau of Shipping

FLAG

Denmark/Singapore

Water depth

3,000 m (10,000ft)

THE MAIN FEATURES OF 

THE RIGS INCLUDE:

Capabilities for deepwater field development activities:

•	 Exploratory, appraisal and development drilling

•	 Batch drilling and completion of multiple well clusters

•	 Installation of subsea facility components

Efficiency for all development activities:

•	 Derrick – 1,361 t (3,000 klbs) combined load rating 

Max. 2,500 klbs single load rating

•	 Main hoisting system – 910 t (2,000 klbs) capacity

•	 Auxiliary hoisting system – 680 t (1,500 klbs) capacity

•	 Large heave compensated knuckle-boom crane (165 t lift 

capacity from deck to deck) with winch for deployment of 

subsea trees and other components up to 100 t over the side 

of the rig to 3,000 m water depth

HSE and work environment:

•	 Large 5-chair driller’s cabin with automated sequenced pipe 

handling operations

•	 Automated and dust-free bulk, mud and chemical transfer 

and mixing systems

•	 Hydraulic work baskets and service platforms providing safe 

access for servicing of major drilling equipment

•	 Deck drainage, containment and treatment systems for 

controlled discharge

Maersk Drilling is a considerable player in the ultra deepwater 

market with four newbuilding drillships and three ULTRA

DEEPWATER DEVELOPMENT SEMI-SUBMERSIBLES.

The three semi-subs are DP rigs designed for year-round 

operation in areas such as Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa 

and Asia pacific at water depths down to 3,000 m (10,000 ft).

Ultra deepwater

drilling and development

DIMENSIONS IMPERIAL METRIC 

Length overall 384 ft 117 m

Length of pontoons 376 ft 115 m

Pontoon breadth & height 57 ft & 33 ft 18 m & 10 m

Columns 55 ft x 57 ft 17 m x 18 m

Length & breadth of upper hull 259 ft x 258 ft 78.5 m x 78 m

Moonpool opening 100 ft x 30 ft 31 m x 9 m

Draft operational (max/min) 67.25 ft / 60.7 ft 20.5 m / 18.5 m

Draft transit 31.8 ft 9.7 m

OPERATIONAL CRITERIA* (drilling) IMPERIAL METRIC 

Water depth (moored in less than 1,640 ft/500 m) 328 ft – 10,000 ft 100 m – 3,000 m

Wind speed 50 knots 26 m/s

Wave height [Hs] 22 ft 6.8 m

Wave period 11 s 11 s

Surface current 1.55 knots 0.8 m/s

PARTICULARS IMPERIAL METRIC 

Displacement operational 59,213 sT 53,718 t

Displacement transit 42,945 sT 38,960 t

Variable deck load (max/transit) 7,700 sT / 5,060 sT 7,000 t / 4,600 t

Variable column load (max/transit) 1,650 sT / 440 sT 1,500 t / 400 t

Variable pontoon load (max/transit) 5,500 sT / 2,200sT 5,000 t / 2,000 t

Total payload (max/transit) 14,950 sT / 7,700 sT 13,500 t / 7,000 t

Riser tensioner load 4,200 klbs 1,906 t

Vertical DP/CS setback load 2,640 klbs 1,200 t

Vertical riser setback load 6,600 klbs 3,000 t

Horizontal pipe rack area 9,700 ft2 900 m2

CAPACITIES IMPERIAL METRIC 

Drill water 12,580 bbl 2,000 m3

Potable water 5,032 bbl 800 m3

Fuel oil 25,160 bbl 4,000 m3

Brine 4,718 bbl 750 m3

Base oil 4,718 bbl 750 m3

Liquid mud [surface pits] 9,435 bbl 1,500 m3

Liquid mud [pontoons] 9,435 bbl 1,500 m3

Bulk mud 24,000 ft3 680 m3

Bulk cement 24,000 ft3 680 m3

Sack material [4,500 sacks] 2,160 ft2 200 m3

MAIN PARTICULARS

* GOM 10 year storm

Derrick rated for US GOM category 4 hurricane
Crown mounted compensation

•	 Main rotary: static/compensating load 2,500 / 1,000 klbs

(1,134 / 454 t). Hydraulic locking with 25 ft stroke

•	 Auxiliary rotary: static/compensating load 1,500 / 750 klbs 

(680 / 340 t). Hydraulic locking with 25 ft stroke

•	 Active heave compensation

Derrick and hoisting systems

•	 Min. 30,000 ft MD rated drilling depth capacity

•	 Hoisting System A: 2,500 klbs static hook load

•	 Drawworks A: 6,000 hp

•	 Top drive A: 2,000 klbs capacity

•	 Rotary A: 601⁄2”

•	 Hoisting System B: 1,500 klbs hook load

•	 Drawworks B: 4,500 hp

•	 Top Drive B: 1,500 klbs capacity

•	 Rotary B: 601⁄2”

Tubular handling systems

•	 1 x pipehandling knuckle-boom crane

•	 2 x horizontal pipe conveyor/skate systems

•	 2 x V-door stand-building and tripping machines

•	 2 x column rackers for pipe handling

•	 2 x iron roughnecks. Offline casing make-up capability

•	 Drill string/casing vertical setback: 31⁄2” – 16” tubulars racked 

in nominal 135 ft stand lengths.

•	 Marine riser vertical storage for 126 each 75 ft of riser joints 

(9,450 ft) plus 2 telescoping joints; additional storage area for 

drilling riser on deck

drill string and tubulars

•	 In excess of 50,000 ft setback capability for drill pipe,

work string, and casing running string: including capability

of racking 25,000 ft of 65⁄8” drill pipe. approximately 15,000 ft 

of 95⁄8” casing racking capacity in addition to drill string

marine riser and tensioning systems

•	 Riser: 10,000 ft of 75 ft length, 21” OD; clip riser with

two 15,000 psi choke & kill lines, one 7,500 psi booster line,

two hydraulic conduit lines

•	 Riser tensioning system consisting of 6 x 700 klbs N-line 

cylinder riser tensioners

•	 Tripsaver system to allow movement of BOP and riser

to wet storage position

BOP and subsea tree handling systems

•	 BOP overhead crane : 2 x 125 t

•	 BOP transporter: 400 t

•	 Subsea tree overhead crane: Subsea tree staging and

skidding system: subsea tree cart underhull guide systems 

each rotary

Well control equipment

•	 183⁄4” BOP – 15,000 psi : two annular + six ram preventers.

•	 The lower ram can be configured as a test ram

•	 Multiplex BOP control system; redundancy to allow both pods 

to operate with one MUX cable

•	 601⁄2” diverter system and riser gas handler, choke & kill 

manifold, 15,000 psi ; mud gas separator, 12 MMscfd

HP mud system

•	 Four 2,200 hp mud pumps rated for 7,500 psi

Mud return system

•	 Ability to handle more than one mud system. 

•	 System design to minimize time displacing mud system/

completion fluids

•	 Eight shale shakers. Cuttings blower system

•	 Provisions for centrifuge and cuttings dryer installation

•	 Completion fluid capability
mud and bulk system

•	 Two automatic sack cutting machines

•	 One bigbag machine : One dual liquid additive pump unit

•	 Four surge tank outlet feeders : Four automatic mud

mixing hoppers

•	 One caustic mixing unit

•	 Two HP mud shearing devices

Provisions for 3rd party equipment

•	 Two large work class ROV systems

(Oceaneering Millenium +)

•	 Diesel cementing unit (Halliburton)

•	 Staging area for subsea completion equipment,

including subsea tree transport system

•	 Completion equipment, including well test equipment

and coil tubing

•	 Dedicated control rooms, store rooms and offices for 3rd party 

system operators

Power systems

•	 8 x 4,800 kw(e), 11 kVAC, 60 Hz generators, divided into 

two self-contained power plants

•	 690 VAC, 60 Hz IT power distribution system

•	 1,500 kw(e) emergency generator

Positioning Systems

•	 DP Class 2: power management system and position

reference systems to DP Class 3

•	 8 x 4,000 kw(e) azimuthing thrusters of min. 700 kN

static thrust each

•	 Four double drum windlasses for 31⁄2” K4 chains

•	 8 x 600 m K-4 chain for attachment to a pre-installed

mooring system; Provision/space for additional windlasses 

and chain for 12-point mooring system

Cranes

•	 Port deck crane : Knuckle-boom crane with 3,000 m, 

3” wire for deployment of subsea trees and other modules up 

to 100 t heave compensated over the side of the rig.

165 t lift capability from supply boat. Auxiliary whipline hoist 

15 t SWL @ 50 m

•	 Starboard deck crane : 50 m max. reach,

SWL 60 t @ 20 m dynamic

•	 One pipehandling knuckle-boom crane : 30 m max. reach, SWL

12 t @ 10 m

helicopter deck

•	 Helicopter deck suitable for an EH101 helicopter 

or Sikorsky S61

Accommodation

•	 Accommodation for 180 people :

•	 10 single berth cabins

•	 85 two berth cabins

•	 Amble office spaces/conference rooms for client and 3rd party 

service contractors

•	 270 m2 of recreation rooms
Rig Floor

Flexibility for multiple activities

•	 Two hoisting/rotary systems

•	 Large setback area for drill pipe, casing and completion

riser outside of derrick/drillfloor

•	 Offline pipe handling capability : standbuilding,

casing make-up and rack back

•	 Transfer of drill string, casing and riser from outside of 

derrick/drillfloor

•	

Optimum layout for subsea completion

•	 Capability for large umbilical and services

(tubing hanger running tool or subsurface test tree)

•	 Additional space for small umbilicals for completion

accessories

Moonpool

Large moonpool; flexibility for multiple activities

•	 N-Line riser tensioner system with tripsaver

•	 Transfer of equipment across the moonpool

•	 Dedicated off-line ‘wet parking’ position

for BOP/drilling riser

•	 BOP handling area (starboard side)

•	 Subsea tree staging area (port side)

The rig includes a number of innovative features, which enhance the capacity and flexibility 

for multiple concurrent activities and improve the drilling efficiency. Back-up facilities and 

solutions are generally provided to reduce the impact of equipment failures.

STATE-OF-THE-ART drilling features
Subsea completions

Flexible system for

multiple well subsea developments

•	 Option to deploy equipment through the main well centre

or over the side by large knuckleboom crane

•	 Large staging area for multiple subsea trees

and accessories

•	 Flexibility in subsea tree handling area for various

subsea system designs

•	 High load capacity for flatbed transporter and tree cart

•	 High vertical clearance in moonpool for subsea system 

stack-up and transport

Logistics

Maximum usuable deck space for optimum

layout of drilling and completion equipment

•	 9,600 ft (2,926 m) vertical riser storage

•	 Large vertical drill pipe and casing setback area

•	 Large pipe rack area (aft) for deepwater completion 

equipment layout

•	 Well test equipment

•	 Tubing/downhole tools

•	 Completion riser accessories

•	 Completion fluids/filtration

•	 Stimulation

•	 Coil tubing

•	 Primary ROV within upper hull ; 2nd ROV location on aft deck

The hull design and layout are based on the operational experience of various deepwater 

operators and third party system suppliers and incorporate a number of innovative 

ideas from our potential customers. Great emphasis has been made on optimising the rig’s 

layout to facilitate flexibility in installation and operation of third party equipment.

Optimised Layout


July 2011

Maersk Drilling, Esbjerg

1, Kanalen

P.O. Box 239

6701 Esbjerg

Denmark

Telephone: +45 76 14 77 00

Telefax: +45 76 14 77 32

E-mail: esbjerg@maersk-drilling.com

The Maersk Company Ltd.

Maersk Drilling

City Wharf

Shiprow

Aberdeen AB11 5BY

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 1224 243100

Telefax: +44 1224 243213

E-mail: aberdeen@maersk-drilling.com

Maersk Drilling Norge AS

Christian August Thorings veg 9

P.O. Box 134 Forus

4065 Stavanger

Norway

Telephone: +47 52 01 70 00

Telefax: +47 52 01 70 01

E-mail: norway@maersk-drilling.com

Maersk Drilling, Baku

9th Floor ISR Plaza Business Center

69 Nizami Street

Baku AZ1000

Azerbaijan

Telephone: +994 12 4978450

Telefax: +994 12 4978467

E-mail: baku@maersk-drilling.com

Maersk Drilling, Venezuela

Edifi cio MCVSA

Muelle Terminales Maracaibo

Las Morochas

Estado Zulia

Venezuela

Telephone: +58 265 4005501

Telefax: +58 265 6311435

E-mail: venezuela@maersk-drilling.com

Maersk Drilling Australia Pty Ltd

Level 1, 1 Preston Street

Como, WA 6152

Australia

Telephone: +61 8 6436 1400

Telefax: +61 8 6436 1444

E-mail: perth@maersk-drilling.com

Maersk Drilling (UAE) FZE

LB18, 26th fl oor, Jebel Ali Free Zone

P.O Box 262476

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Telephone: +971 4 8865 770

Telefax: +971 4 886 5679

E-mail: dubai@maersk-drilling.com

Maersk Drilling USA Inc.

2500 City West Boulevard

Suite 1850

Houston

Texas 77042

USA

Telephone: +1 713 346 4300

Telefax: +1 713 783 9409

E-mail: houston@maersk-drilling.com

Maersk Drilling Services A/S, Brunei

Brunei Branch Lot 7272

Simpang 73, Sungai Duhon

Light Industrial Area

Kuala Belait KA3131

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Telephone: +673 223 9955

Telefax: +673 223 9958

E-mail: brunei@maersk-drilling.com

Head offi ce:

Maersk Drilling

50, Esplanaden

1098 Copenhagen K

Denmark

Telephone: +45 3363 3363

Telefax: +45 3363 3182

E-mail: copenhagen@maersk-drilling.com

www.maersk-drilling.com