Noble installs VSAT on offshore drilling fleet

Noble Corp will invest in new IT communications and VSAT connectivity across its fleet of drilling rigs and ships. It has contracted Speedcast International to deploy a fully managed connectivity service for the global fleet of 28 offshore drilling units.

This will be delivered through a combination of VSAT equipment and satellite communications with connectivity from available 4G and long-term evolution (LTE) networks.

Speedcast will provide Noble with end-to-end managed communication services. It will change out the fleet’s entire hardware infrastructure. Speedcast will install dual-band antennas for C-band and Ku-band and the latest modem technologies to maximise throughput, security and redundancy of VSAT.

This will enable drill ships and rigs to link to a network of up to 70 satellites for global communications and internet connectivity. When drilling units are in range of 4G or LTE networks such as those in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico their communications can swap over to the least-cost route.

Noble operates a fleet of 28 offshore drilling units, consisting of 14 drill ships and semi-submersibles and 14 jack-ups.