Keppel to Build First Jackup of the KFELS N Plus Design

Keppel FELS shipyard, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) has secured a contract from TS Offshore to construct an ultra-high specification jack-up rig worth about $500 million.

Scheduled for delivery in 1Q 2017, it will be the first jack-up built to Keppel’s new proprietary KFELS N Plus design.

With its leg measuring 678 feet, and a maximum combined drilling load of 3,860 kips, the KFELS N Plus is able to meet stringent operating requirements for the most challenging wells. It can work at a maximum water depth of 500 feet, drill to depths of 35,000 feet, and is equipped with a 100 feet cantilever outreach.

Equipped with 72 high-capacity pinion jacks and a self-positioning fixation system of OTD’s proprietary design, the KFELS N Plus design offers a robust performance during installation as well as elevated survival and drilling conditions.

When delivered, it is expected to be deployed in the Eastern China Sea but will also have provisions built in to enable the rig to operate in the North Sea.