KCA Deutag parts with Ben Loyal rig

KCA Deutag, a global drilling and engineering contractor, has sold its jack-up drilling unit, the Ben Loyal, to Egyptian-headquartered Advanced Energy Systems A.D.E.S. SAE for an undisclosed sum.

According to the drilling contractor, the Ben Loyal had been continuously under contract in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig was built in 1981 and acquired by KCA Deutag in 2005.

The Friede & Goldman L-780 MOD II rig, which is due for a special periodic survey next year, is capable of drilling in water depths of 300ft.

Norrie McKay, KCA Deutag CEO said: “The sale of the Ben Loyal is another important step for KCA Deutag as we continue to focus our growth strategy on our core businesses of premium rig services, specialist engineering and design, and land rig manufacturing.”