Ensco retrieves Ensco 69 jack up from Venezuela

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 26 -- Ensco PLC reported that it retrieved Ensco 69, an independent-leg slot jack up, from Venezuela and moved the rig to Trinidad and Tobago. Previously, Ensco terminated its contract for the rig with Petrosucre, a unit of Venezuela’s Petroleos de Venezuela SA.

The drilling contractor reclassified its jack up as discontinued operations last year after terminating its contract with Petrosucre for nonpayment issues in June 2009.

Petrosucre continued to operate Ensco 69 without Ensco’s consent, Ensco said in an Aug. 25 release. PDVSA said in a news release last year that Ensco 69 was the only Ensco rig operating in Venezuela. It worked in the Gulf of Paria.

“Ensco continues to pursue related insurance claims, which the insurers have disputed,” the company said in a brief statement announcing it had regained possession of the jack up. “Ensco personnel recently were granted access to Ensco 69.” No other details were provided.