KCA Deutag sells jack-up rig Ben Rinnes

Global drilling and engineering contractor, KCA Deutag, has sold its jack-up drilling unit, the Ben Rinnes, to an integrated energy and services company for an undisclosed sum.

Built in Clydebank, Scotland in 1973 and acquired by KCA Deutag in 2005, the Ben Rinnes was under contract offshore Angola until February of this year.

The ABS Classed Marathon Le Tourneau MLT 53-S enhanced rig has been stacked in Gabon since then.

Norrie McKay, KCA Deutag CEO said: “Whilst the sale of the Ben Rinnes is an important milestone for KCA Deutag as it is our last asset in our mobile offshore drilling fleet, we continue to maintain the competence and experience required to support offshore drilling unit operations.

“This expertise is currently supporting the construction and start-up of two Category J jack-up rigs which will commence operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf next year.”

The drilling contractor recently came into spotlight after a report it was recruiting 300 new offshore workers. The recruiting was related to a contract awarded to KCA Deutag in June 2013 for the management, operation and maintenance of two Category J jack-up rigs which will operate on the Norwegian Continental Shelf for Statoil.