Ensco orders newbuild harsh-environment jack up rig

Ensco PLC ordered a newbuild ultrapremium harsh-environment jack up rig to be built under a fixed-price shipyard construction contract with Keppel FELS Ltd. in Singapore.

Paula Dittrick

Oct. 11, 2011

Ensco PLC ordered a newbuild ultrapremium harsh-environment jack up rig to be built under a fixed-price shipyard construction contract with Keppel FELS Ltd. in Singapore.

The anticipated total cost, including commissioning, systems integration testing, and project management, is $260 million of which the shipyard construction cost is $245 million.

Delivery is slated for third-quarter 2014. The rig, which will be an enhanced version of the KFELS Super A design, will be capable of operating in 400 ft of water with a drilling depth of 40,000 ft.

Including this latest jack up order, Ensco has seven newbuild rigs under construction: two drillships, two ultradeepwater semisubmersibles, and three ultrapremium harsh-environment jack ups, the company said. Ensco says it expects these rigs will be delivered on time and on budget.

About the Author

Paula Dittrick

Senior Staff Writer

Paula Dittrick has covered oil and gas from Houston for more than 20 years. Starting in May 2007, she developed a health, safety, and environment beat for Oil & Gas Journal. Dittrick is familiar with the industry’s financial aspects. She also monitors issues associated with carbon sequestration and renewable energy.

Dittrick joined OGJ in February 2001. Previously, she worked for Dow Jones and United Press International. She began writing about oil and gas as UPI’s West Texas bureau chief during the 1980s. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska in 1974.