Keppel Ready to Deliver Another Semi to Ensco (Singapore)

Long standing customer Ensco has to date entrusted Keppel with 19 major newbuild projects worth more than US$4.8 billion.  Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) is set to deliver ENSCO 8506, the seventh semisubmersible (semi) drilling rig in the ultra-deepwater ENSCO 8500 Series® to Ensco safely, on time and within budget.

ENSCO 8506 has been contracted to Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for deployment in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in 4Q 2012.  A naming ceremony for the rig was held at Keppel FELS on 16 June 2012 with Singapore’s Head of Civil Service and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Mr Peter Ong, as the Guest of Honour.

Mr Ong commented, “Keppel is today a global leader in the design and construction of offshore oil rigs because of the track record and long term partnerships it has established with international drilling contractors like Ensco. Backed by Singapore’s strong logistics and infrastructure, local shipyards have demonstrated their strength in providing customised solutions, value-added services as well as safe and timely deliveries to their customers. This has helped enhanced Singapore’s standing as an international maritime centre.”

 Mr Daniel W. Rabun, Ensco’s Chairman, President & CEO, said, “We are very pleased to receive our seventh ENSCO 8500 Series® rig. The earlier rigs delivered have proven to be a success whether deployed in Asia, North America or South America. This has been reaffirmed by our repeat customers. ENSCO 8506 is the third rig from the series contracted by Anadarko.”

“In partnering with Keppel to build all seven rigs, we have been able to deliver to our customers high quality rigs on time and within budget. Keppel has been an excellent partner in delivering maximum value for us on the standardisation of the seven rigs. We are applying the same principles to the three high-specification KFELS Super A Class jackup rigs that they are currently building for us.”

As the exclusive builder of the ENSCO 8500 Series®, Keppel FELS has consistently achieved process improvements to optimise efficiency. On both the Ensco 8505 and ENSCO 8506, a 19% productivity improvement was achieved from the first five rigs delivered.

Mr Tong Chong Heong, CEO of Keppel Offshore & Marine, added, “ENSCO 8506 is our 16th newbuild rig for Ensco and we are glad to be able to support the growth of their rig fleet by providing value-added and cost-effective solutions to meet their needs.

We have established a track record with Ensco that has seen them entrust us with 19 major newbuild projects worth more than US$4.8 billion. We are currently constructing three ultra-premium harsh environment jackup rigs for Ensco modeled after our proprietary KFELS Super A Class design. We are committed to delivering them to the highest satisfaction of Ensco.”

Designed to address some of the most demanding offshore drilling requirements at water depths of up to 8,500 feet, ENSCO 8506 features a two million pound quad derrick, offline pipe handling capability, 35,000 feet drilling capacity and 8,000 tonnes of variable deck load.

Apart from the three KFELS Super A Class jackup rigs, Ensco currently has a drillship, ENSCO DS-6, which is being modified at Keppel FELS. The three jackup rigs under construction, ENSCO 120, ENSCO 121 and ENSCO 122, provide increased drilling efficiencies for multi-well platform programs, ultra-deep gas drilling, and ultra-long reach wells of up to 40,000 feet drilling depth. The first jackup scheduled to be delivered, ENSCO 120, is already contracted for work in the Central North Sea.

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Sourec: Keppel June 18, 2012