Sembcorp to build jack-up rig for Seadrill

Scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2013, the new jack-up rig will have similar design and specification as the West Elara, a Gusto MSC CJ70 150A harsh-environment rig that Jurong Shipyard is currently building for Seadrill.

The rig is specifically built to meet the stringent Norwegian standards for operation in the North Sea region. It will have the ability to operate in water depths of up to 150m with a high variable deck load and a higher operating efficiency compared to previous jack-up generations.

Don Lee, Jurong Shipyaard’s Senior General Manager of Offshore Division said “We are pleased that Seadrill has again chosen to partner Jurong Shipyard in their fleet expansion to be one of the largest operators of high-quality premium harsh-environment drilling rigs. This Gusto MSC CJ70 jack-up rig will be e the second such unit that Jurong Shipyard is building for Seadrill and for operations in the Norwegian Continental Shelf, a quality stringent area requiring high standards of

compliance. Jurong Shipyard has to date successfully delivered to Seadrill three units of turnkey Ex-D Friede & G Goldman deepwater semi-submersible rigs – the West Sirius, West Taurus and West Orion. Six other Seadrill rigs are in various stages of construction, including the fourth Ex-D Friede & Goldman deepwater semi-submersible (West Capricorn), two Moss Maritime CS50 ultra-deepwater semi-submersibles (West Pegasus and West Leo), one harsh-environment Gusto MSC CJ70 jack-up rig (West Elara) and two premium Friede & Goldman JU2000E jack-ups (West Castor and West Tucana).We are heartened by Seadrill’s trust and confidence in our rig building capabilities and will continue to build on this strong partnership and win-win synergy going forward.”

Alf C Thorkildsen, Chief Executive Officer in Seadrill Management, said “We are excited to have entered into this arrangement again with our proven partner, Jurong Shipyard. We look forward in confidence to the timely delivery of this new generation of advanced rigs which will be one of the most capable and competitive in the world. This newbuild will be an important addition to our fleet of harsh-environment drilling units which will increase earnings and employment visibility of our operations.”