The ENSCO 8502 semi has a two-year contract with Nexen starting next year.
Keppel FELS Ltd is on track to deliver ENSCO 8502, the third of seven ENSCO 8500 Series semisubmersible drilling rigs it will build for Ensco International. The rig, which was named on 5 December at the Keppel yard, is set to commence operations in the US Gulf of Mexico under a two-year contract with Nexen Petroleum during the second quarter of 2010.
“We have already invested more than half of the US$3 billion committed to the ENSCO 8500 Series newbuild programme, and we are well on our way toward having the world’s largest fleet of ultra-deepwater semisubmersibles capable of drilling in water depths of 7,500 ft or deeper,” said Dan Rabun, ENSCO chairman, president and CEO.
“When ENSCO 8502 is delivered early next year, we will have four ultra-deepwater semisubmersibles in our active fleet to complement our premium jackups around the globe.”
According to Keppel FELS CEO Tong Chong Heong, accumulated experience with the ENSCO 8500 Series allowed the company to improve construction lead time by 1.1 million manhours for ENSCO 8502, compared with the first rig in this series. This represents a 15% boost in efficiency.
Construction of the next four rigs remains on schedule, with expected deliveries extending from the fourth quarter of 2010 into 2012.
