Bull Arm Location of Multi-Million Dollar Refit

Natural Resources
June 17, 2009
Bull Arm Location of Multi-Million Dollar Refit

The GSF Grand Banks offshore drilling unit is about to undergo a three-month major refit at the Bull Arm site, employing more than 300 local trades people.

"The Bull Arm site is a world-class facility that has provided broad benefits to the province through participation in a number of major projects, including the Hibernia, Terra Nova and White Rose projects," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources. "As a subsidiary of Nalcor Energy, the Bull Arm site will continue to be a major player in the growth of our industrial sector through projects such as this one and the upcoming Hebron development."

Pennecon Energy is doing the refurbishment of the GSF Grand Banks, owned by a subsidiary of Transocean and currently under a drilling contract with Husky Energy on the White Rose expansion field. The multi-million dollar refit contract includes hull coating piping system renewal, maintenance, equipment overhauls and new equipment installations. Work is expected to begin in late June or early July and conclude in October.

"Nalcor Energy is committed to ensuring the Bull Arm asset is available to maximize the benefits to the province from large-scale construction and fabrication projects," said the minister. "This is an important asset for the development of our oil and gas industry and the advancement of our fabrication capacity."

The refurbishment of the drilling unit will take place in the FPSO quay and drydock area of the Bull Arm fabrication site.

In August 2008, the Provincial Government announced the transfer of the Bull Arm Fabrication Site to Nalcor Energy. Bull Arm is Atlantic Canada�s largest industrial fabrication site. The Bull Arm site has fully integrated and comprehensive infrastructure to support construction, fabrication and assembly at its topsides, drydock and deepwater sites.

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Media contact:

Tracy Barron
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 690-8241
tracybarron@gov.nl.ca

2009 06 17 9:15 a.m.

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