DNV's contract for classification & CVA (Certified Verification Authority) for Delta House floater marks new era of choice in the Gulf of Mexico.

DNV has been awarded the classification contract for a new build floating production semi-submersible platform for the GoM. The Delta House floater will be operated by LLOG Exploration Company, a premier private exploration and production company in the Gulf of Mexico.

Following a detailed review of DNV rules and procedures, the U. S. Coast Guard has confirmed that they will accept plan review and inspection functions conducted by DNV for the Delta House floater as part of the unit’s certification under Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations. This follows from a general acceptance given by the U.S. Coast Guard in 2007 and provides a new option for owners and operators of offshore floating units.

“Owners have expressed a strong desire for choice of classification society’s for floating offshore installations in American waters and we know there are many owners, designers, operators and yards who would prefer to work with DNV, and this contract is proof that they can do so, confident of legal and regulatory approval,” said Kenneth Vareide, DNV’s Director of Operations for Maritime in North America.

“With local capabilities and expertise DNV is a well established alternative and experienced partner for classing floaters and complex projects in the Gulf of Mexico. We now look forward to address the industry’s needs and desires for increased safety, reliability, cutting edge technology and, of course, reduced downtime. We are confident that both owners and regulatory agencies will benefit from this,” he said.

DNV has carried out extensive verification and independent analysis for many GoM floaters throughout the past 20 years, including many high profile failure and accident investigations. DNV has a wide portfolio of CVA and development projects for the oil and gas industry in the GoM. DNV was also the classification society and CVA for the first FPSO for the Cascade and Chinook field in the US GOM.

DNV will carry out approvals for classification and verification work, and surveys related to activities in the US. DNV is also the Certified Verification Agent (CVA) for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) for the structure, mooring and riser, which will all be executed from the Houston office.

The Design Basis Agreement for Delta House, as approved by the Coast Guard, is based largely on DNV’s offshore rules for a FOI (Floating Offshore Installation).

The hull design is based on EXMAR Offshore Company’s proprietary OPTI-11000® and will be fabricated in Korea, at Hyundai Heavy Industries. The topside production system is designed by New Orleans based Audubon Engineering Company, with fabrication and integration with the hull at the Kiewit Offshore Services Yard in Ingleside, Texas. The completed FOI (Floating Offshore Installation) will be installed in the deep water US Gulf on the Mississippi Canyon block 254. Fabrication of the hull starts early 2013 for planned production in 2015.

DNV is currently also classifying 8 new building projects, OSVs, diving support vessels and a US Flag ro-ro/container ship for the U.S. Jones Act trade, that are at various stages of construction in U.S yards in the Gulf and on the East Coast.
Globally, DNV’s market share of classification contracts awarded for new buildings in 2012 were as follows:

    •    FPSO/FSRU: 70%
    •    Drillships: 30%
    •    Semi-submersibles: 60%