Keppel orders drilling equipment for second Awilco rig from MHWirth

MHWirth, a company owned by Akastor, has signed a contract with Keppel FELS for delivery of one drilling equipment package for a new mid-water semi-submersible drilling rig.

This is the first out of three options that were given when Keppel FELS and MHWirth signed a contract in April 2018 for a similar drilling equipment package.

Namely, Awilco last year ordered a semi-submersible drilling rig from Keppel, and the shipyard, in turn, ordered the drilling package for this rig from MHWirth. If all goes to plan, Keppel will deliver the rig to Awilco in the first quarter of 2021.

Following the first rig order last year, Awilco in March 2019 ordered a second rig from Keppel. This rig, which will be of a CS60 ECO MW design, will be delivered in the first quarter of 2022.

Keppel FELS has now placed the order at MHWirth to deliver the drilling equipment for the second rig as well.

According to MHWirth, the contract value for the drilling equipment package, including a mid-water riser package, is approximately $100 million. This will be included in the order intake in 2Q 2019.

The rig is designed for harsh environment use and will be equipped and certified for drilling on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, including in the Barents Sea, in water depths up to 5000ft.

Awilco currently owns two 3rd generation semi-submersible drilling rigs, the WilHunter, and the WilPhoenix, which have operated in the UK sector of the North Sea for years. With the two newbuilds, the company is now targeting the Norwegian market.

The UK-based drilling contractor also has options to build up to two further additional rigs of similar design.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

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