Noble Regina Allen

Repairs and upgrades to the 98 x 84 metre jack-up rig Noble Regina Allen owned by the offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation.

Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam (DSR) was the logical choice for a series of works required by Noble Corporation’s 98 x 84 metre jack up rig Noble Regina Allen. Not only is it one of Damen’s largest yards with sizeable dry docks, it also has extensive experience in maintaining vessels of this type, as well as particular expertise in high tensile steel welding.

The main works required the removal of bracing and cords that needed replacing, and repairs to the upper part of one of the four, high tensile steel legs. This involved the fabrication and installation of a new section and, at the same time, the lower section of that leg had to be removed prior to being refitted once the other works were completed.

The project got underway in April 2023, overseen by a project team made up of experts from Damen, Noble Corporation, the heavy-lifting specialist Mammoet and Friede & Goldman, the rig’s original designer. On arrival the Noble Regina Allen went alongside the quay for assessment followed by phase 1; the works on the bow leg along with preparations for the next phase in the dry dock.  Phases 2 and 3, which ran from June to October, saw the rig moved to DSR’s 405 x 90 metres dry dock no.7 where the spud can was installed and the works on the bow leg completed.

The climax of the project was the preparation and positioning in Dock no.7 of Mammoet’s Mega Jack lifting system. With it in place, the 22,000 tonne rig was raised to the exceptional height of 34-metres above the dock floor to allow the installation of the new leg section followed by the replacement of the existing spudcan. That completed, the welding of the bracing, racks, window plates and cords could go ahead. Finally, following the reinstatement of the bow leg, dock no. 7 was flooded and the rig towed out for sea trials. These successfully completed, the vessel departed Rotterdam at the end of March 2024 to begin its next assignment.