Saipem secures rig for Gulf of Mexico work

Nov. 13, 2007
Italy's Eni SPA has awarded Saipem a 5-year contract for the new Scarabeo 9 deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig for work mainly in the Gulf of Mexico.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 13 -- Italy's Eni SPA has awarded Saipem a 5-year contract for the new Scarabeo 9 deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig for work mainly in the Gulf of Mexico.

The $860 million contract will become effective at yearend 2009 and run through yearend 2014.

The new rig, under construction at the Chinese Yantai Raffles shipyard, is scheduled for delivery in fourth quarter 2009.

Scarabeo 9 will be capable of operating in as much as 3,600 m of water in full dynamic positioning.

Saipem acquired the Scarabeo 9, previously named D90, with almost all of the holdings in Norwegian firm Frigstad Discoverer Invest Ltd., which owned the rig.