Maersk Highlander jack-up rig delivered in Singapore

Singapore’s Sembcorp Marine has delivered the Maersk Highlander jack-up rig to the Danish drilling contractor Maersk Drilling.

The rig had originally been ordered by Hercules Offshore, which last week agreed to a deal with Maersk Drilling, whereby Maersk Drilling would pay the last installment for the rig and take over the ownership. Maersk Drilling also takes over the rig’s contract at the Culzean field in the North Sea.

In the meantime, Hercules Offshore is getting ready for yet another bankruptcy. More on that here: https://bit.ly/25q64pJ

The Highlander

The rig, formerly known as Hercules Highlander, is constructed based on the Friede & Goldman JU 2000E design. It can operate in water depths of up to 400 feet and drill to 30,000 feet deep.

According to Sembcorp Marine, the rig’s capabilities include a 2-million-pound drilling capacity, 6,000 barrels of mud capacity, 28,000-kip preload capacity for the legs, and an accommodation facility that houses up to 150 workers. The rig’s construction started in September 2014.

Sembcorp Marine President and CEO Wong Weng Sun said: “Other than an outstanding safety record, the successful Maersk Highlander project reinforces Sembcorp Marine’s solid reputation as an efficient and reliable rig builder, supported by strong production capabilities as well as highly competent project management and technical personnel. As a technology-driven company, we are constantly seeking ways to innovate and offer the most effective solutions to our customers.”