The demand for drilling units able to operate in deeper waters has prompted contractors to not only undertake a number of newbuild rig and drillship projects, but also to carry out conversions where possible. Italian Saipem's Scarabeo 7 semisubmersible is one such project now nearing completion.

The contractor recently christened its US $237 million unit, which is at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, northern Sicily.
The eight-column, thruster-assisted drilling rig is designed for drilling operations in water depths of up to 1,500m, and has been converted from a former accommodation unit.
However, there have been problems with the project. The initial delivery date was way back in the fourth quarter of 1997 originally, with Agip planning to use it to drill in the Mediterranean. When it became obvious that the unit would be badly delayed Agip agreed to maintain the contract if the rig were delivered by July 1999. But it is only now, with the semisub in Palermo for final outfitting and commissioning, that it is finally nearing completion. It is expected to spud a two well program with IEOC offshore Egypt, possibly this month.
The unit was converted from the Safe Supporter accommodation rig, an F&G Enhanced Pacesetter-GVA conversion design, between 1997 and 1999 at the Tuzla yard in Turkey. Its specifications should mean it will be fully utilized once operational, featuring drilling equipment designed to reach a vertical depth of 25,000ft, and being outfitted with a 2,000,000lb static load derrick (1,500,000lb dynamic hook load) and 650t Hydralift top drive.
All vessel motion is compensated by a Hydrilift 600-25 crown-mounted heave compensator rated for 750t.
The heart of all the drilling equipment is the new Drawworks WIRTH GH 3000 EG driven by 3,000hp electric motors and fitted with an innovative regenerative disk braking system combined with a Baylor brake system.
The rig also features a highly automated electronic controlled drilling cabin, computerized data acquisition system, automatic elevators integrated with the pipe handling system and an automatic roughneck.
The cost of the conversion is just part of Saipem's current 1,700 billion Lira investment program for the period 1998/2001, of which 80% is in the offshore sector.
Other investments by the state-owned contractor include the ongoing construction of the Saipem 10,000 drillship and the multipurpose field development ship due to work offshore West Africa. Both are scheduled for delivery during the second quarter of this year.

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