About the project

One of the important events in the market was the acquisition of the West Capricorn drilling rig by PetroRio (PRIO) in 2022. The oil company formalized the purchase with the offshore drilling contractor Aquadrill through a total payment estimated at US$ 40 million.

For the re-adaptation of the drilling rig, Proper Marine – now Longitude Brazil – performed structural integrity engineering analyses of both the Seaway 7 Hawk (Heavy Lift) vessel and the SS West Capricorn unit, considering the environmental loads of transport during navigation.

The project began in early December 2022 and extended until the end of January 2023, when the float-on operation began, which consists of positioning the West Capricorn on the submerged deck of the Heavy Lift vessel.

The challenges

The challenge was to develop a complex structural analysis involving the interaction between two vessels subjected to short-term environmental loads, capable of generating reliable results in order to establish the best arrangement of the shipyards to ensure the structural integrity of the vessel during the voyage.

The results 

Proper Marine – now Longitude Brazil – successfully completed the project, demonstrating competence and expertise in maritime engineering. The West Capricorn was brought from Trinidad and Tobago to Brazil, where it was reactivated for use in the revitalization of PRIO’s oil fields.

This project exemplifies the importance of decommissioning in the oil market, allowing PRIO to maximize the potential of its assets and extend their lifespan. Furthermore, the semi-submersible rig can be leased to third parties, which will generate further market development and new job opportunities.