Ensco places semi with Keppel

The US offshore drilling company, Dallas-based Ensco International Inc., has signed a contract worth approximately $385 million with the Keppel FELS Ltd. Shipyard in Singapore to construct an ultra-deepwater semi-submersible rig. Delivery of the rig, to be named ENSCO 8502, is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009.

The new rig is its third semi-submersible rig in the 8500 series and the fourth deepwater semi-submersible rig. Keppel is currently building ENSCO 8500 and 8501 which are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009 respectively.

The 8500 series rigs will have the capacity to drill in up to 8,500 feet of water and can readily be upgraded to 10,000 feet water depth capability. Each rig is fitted with a DPS2 dynamic positioning system, eight 2,600KW thrusters and a single conventional two million pound quad drilling derrick system, with accommodation for up to 150 persons.

The rigs will also have offline pipe handling capability, increased drilling capacity, greater variable deck load and improved automatic station keeping ability.

Commenting on the order, Carl Thorne, Ensco?s Chairman and CEO said “We continue to see strong demand for deepwater equipment and are in discussions with several customers that have expressed interest in ENSCO 8502. We have elected to proceed with construction of ENSCO 8502 in advance of securing a firm drilling commitment for the rig as we believe that the window of opportunity to secure a 2009 delivery and achieve a competitive cost for the rig was closing.”

Keppel FELS is also building an ultra-high specification jackup rig, ENSCO 108, for Ensco, and this rig is scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2007.