offshore spotlight Increased demand for offshore oIl and gas In deep water to grow rIg, osV fleets A new report by the UK-based maritime research firm Ocean Shipping Consultants is projecting that increased offshore oil and gas production in ultra deep waters will generate significant demand for more sophisticated mobile drilling rigs and complex offshore support vessels. The 200-page report, “Offshore Support Vessels and Mobile Rigs: Global Prospects to 2025,” examines developments in the offshore mobile rig and support vessel sectors and evaluates their future prospects to 2025. According to the report, offshore oil production is forecast to increase by 55% from current production levels to reach over 36 million barrels per day (bbls/d) by 2025. Meanwhile, offshore gas production will grow by 22% to over 1,000 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/yr). The report says increased oil and gas production is projected to grow the current fleet of mobile rigs by 41% compared to about 1,100 active rigs. This will mean that more Anchor Handling Tug/Supply (AHTS) vessels will be required to service the rigs. The fleet will grow by 41% to 3,900 vessels, while the Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) fleet is forecast to increase by some 40% over 3,200 vessels by the end of the study period.
MOBILE RIG, AHTS AND PSV DEMAND For mobile rigs, the average annual newbuilding levels are forecast to remain high throughout the study period at about 30 per year, with the mobile rig fleet forecast to increase by 30% by 2020, and again go up by 9% by 2025. Overall, the mobile
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rig fleet is forecast to increase by 41% above current levels. The report also projects the current fleet of 2,850 AHTS vessels will grow at about 2.5% annually. The fleet is forecast to increase by 10% by 2015, with another 15% increase by 2020 and then an increase of 12% by the end of 2025. The PSV fleet, currently at 2,350 vessels, is forecast to increase at a rate of approximately 3% per year. Overall, the fleet is expected to grow by 13% by 2015, followed by a further increase of 13% by 2020 and then a further 10% to over 3,200 vessels by 2025. Overall, the PSV fleet is forecast to increase by 40% over current fleet levels.