Houston-based Rowan Cos. Inc. said it will design and construct a $190 million jack up, to be known as Gorilla VIII. Based on the Super Gorilla class of rigs, this class will be known as Super Gorilla XL.
Gorilla VIII will have 708 ft of leg, 134 ft more than previous Super Gorillas, and have 30% larger spud cans, enabling operation in the Gulf of Mexico in water depths up to 550 ft. Gorilla VIII will also be able to operate in water depths up to 400 feet in the hostile environments off Eastern Canada and the North Sea.
The jack up will be built at Rowan affiliate LeTourneau Inc.'s facility in Vicksburg, Miss. Delivery is expected in the third quarter 2003.
"There are numerous tracts in the Gulf of Mexico beyond the water depth capability of existing jack up rigs," said Rowan Chairman and CEO C.R. Palmer...Rowan continues to be confident in a bright future for technically superior jack up drilling rigs operating in niche markets.