Keppel FELS Delivers New Jack-Up Rig to JDC

Keppel FELS Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), said it has delivered the KFELS Super B Class jackup rig, HAKURYU-11, to Japan Drilling Company (JDC).

HAKURYU-11 will be chartered to the Con Son joint venture led by Petrovietnam. Built to Keppel’s advanced KFELS Super B Class design, it has been developed with several cost-efficient and distinctive safety features for rig operators.

At the naming ceremony held at Keppel FELS today, Mr Wong Kok Seng, Managing Director (Offshore), Keppel O&M and Managing Director, Keppel FELS, said, “We are proud to be able to deliver our 10th rig in five months in a timely and safe manner. This puts us on track to deliver another 10 rigs in a similiar fashion by the end of the year.

“JDC was very specific with the requirements for their new jackup building programme. With a strong emphasis on safety, quality, reliability and efficiency, we have ensured that HAKURYU-11 meets all these requirements and is able to achieve zero downtime as well as value-add when it is in operation.”

The KFELS Super B Class design has a drilling depth of 35,000 ft. This rig’s leg structure is uniquely designed to provide enhanced robustness for operations at 425 ft water depth. The rig is engineered to operate in high ambient temperatures and can accommodate 150 personnel onboard. It features an offline stand building capability to handle drill pipes efficiently, a combined drilling load of up to 2,700 kips and a high capacity hook load of 2 million pounds, boosting overall rig performance and productivity.

Mr Minoru Murata, President and Representative Director of JDC whose wife Mrs Minoru Murata was the Lady Sponsor of the rig, said, “HAKURYU-11 is not only one of the most technically advanced types available in the current market but many of its operational and drilling capability surpasses most other rigs in competition. Hence, this new drilling rig will certainly bring strong operational advantages to JDC and further enhance our highly rated reputation of efficiency and effectiveness in the industry.”

Keppel FELS completed two KFELS B Class jackup rigs in 2006 and 2008 for a JDC joint venture company with Qatar Petroleum – Gulf Drilling International (GDI) and is currently also building two jackups for GDI.

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Keppel FELS, May 27, 2013