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Transocean orders 5 more KFELS jackups

Transocean has awarded Keppel FELS a repeat order of five KFELS Super B Class jackups for US$1.1 billion. The rigs are scheduled to be delivered between Q1 2016 and Q3 2017. “Having already delivered three jackup rigs to them earlier this year, on time, within budget and without incidents, we have assured them that we have the expertise and experience to deliver high-quality rigs to their schedule and requirements,” Wong Kok Seng, managing director of Keppel FELS, said. The three deliveries are the Transocean Siam Driller, Transocean Andaman and Transocean Ao Thai. The driller also has options to build up to five more similar jackups with Keppel FELS.

“We are glad that Transocean has chosen to expand their fleet of premium jackup rigs with the KFELS Super B Class design. It is a testament to our strong track record and the value-add that we offer to our customers,” said Mr Wong, who also serves as managing director, offshore, for Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M). Keppel FELS is on track to complete up to 21 rigs by year’s end.

“This year, Keppel O&M has already secured 20 newbuild projects worth about S$6.4 billion, including this latest order. All of them are based on our proprietary designs. We build winning partnerships with our customers, and our collaboration with Transocean over the years has enabled us to customize innovative products well suited to meet the market’s needs.”

The KFELS Super B Class rigs are designed to operate in up to 400 ft of water and drill to 35,000 ft. They feature a 2 million-lb drilling system and a maximum combined cantilever load of 3,700 kips. In addition, the rig will be installed with offline stand-building features in its drilling system package. The rigs will be capable of drilling at a 75-ft outreach, allowing for coverage of a larger well pattern.

Besides the three recently delivered jackups, Keppel also delivered in 2009 Transocean’s Development Driller III, an ultra-deepwater semisubmersible built to Keppel’s DSSTM 51 design. Other projects include upgrades and conversions of the Sedco 700-series semisubmersibles to enable dynamic positioning, and the repair of various Transocean rigs. Since 1987, Transocean, through Global Santa Fe, and Keppel O&M have completed seven new-generation jackups, according to Keppel.

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