Keppel FELS to build seventh ENSCO deepwater rig

Keppel FELS, USA, has won a contract to build the seventh ENSCO 8500 Series deepwater semisubmersible worth US$560 million.

To be delivered in the second half of 2012, the ENSCO 8506 will be the seventh consecutive semi that Keppel FELS is constructing for ENSCO International Incorporated (ENSCO). The contract follows shortly after the award of the sixth semi, ENSCO 8505, that was announced on June 1, 2008. The first unit in the seven-strong fleet of 8500 Series semis was contracted in 2005 and is on track for shipyard delivery in the third quarter of this year. It has been chartered to Anadarko and Eni for operations in the US Gulf of Mexico. The ENSCO 8506 is capable of drilling in up to 2,590 metres of water. Features include a two million pound quad derrick, offline pipe handling capability, 10,660-metre drilling capacity, and station keeping capabilities meeting DP2 requirements. With these features, the 8500 Series rigs will be especially well-suited for deepwater development drilling. ENSCO, headquartered in Dallas, USA, owns and operates a fleet of offshore drilling rigs servicing the petroleum industry on a global basis.
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