Keppel FELS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) has delivered Halul, a KFELS B Class jackup rig, to Gulf Drilling International Ltd. (q.s.c) (GDI) of Qatar. It was completed on 21 January 2016, ten days ahead of schedule, on budget and with a perfect safety record. It is the first rig that Keppel FELS has delivered this year, the Company said in a press release.
Halul is also the fifth KFELS B Class jackup rig delivered to GDI. With its continued successful partnership with Keppel FELS, GDI has renewed options for two more repeat KFELS B Class rigs for deliveries in 2018 and 2019.
Mr Wong Kok Seng, Managing Director of Keppel O&M (Offshore) and Keppel FELS, said, "We are proud to deliver another rig to GDI early and safely. This is our first delivery of the year and we are proud that even in a low oil price environment, the KFELS B Class continues to be the preferred rig in the market for its high quality, efficiency and safety.
"While there is widespread industry cautiousness, the strong relationships we have built with our long-standing customers, such as GDI, enables us to work together to deliver projects in a win-win fashion."
The KFELS B Class rigs have a strong track record for GDI. Sister rigs Dukhan and Al Zubarah are operating successfully for Qatar Petroleum while Al Khor is performing well for Shell.
Built to GDI's requirements, the jackup rig has been designed to operate in the higher ambient temperature of the Middle East. The KFELS B Class is equipped with larger spud cans for reduced bearing pressure and expands its operational coverage in more places, especially in sea beds where soft soil is predominant. The rig can drill wells through 30,000 feet with a cantilever that can skid out 70 feet from the edge of the hull to drill wells. It features offline stand building capabilities and 7,500 PSI mud pumps, with accommodation for 150 persons.
Besides newbuild rigs, Nakilat-Keppel O&M, Keppel's joint venture shipyard in Qatar, recently completed a self-propelled and self-elevating liftboat for GDI.
Keppel FELS, a subsidiary of Keppel O&M, is a leading designer, builder and repairer of high-performance mobile offshore rigs. Its portfolio of proprietary designs and floating production solutions meets a broad spectrum of operating requirements, including deep waters and harsh environments.
Keppel Shipyard, a subsidiary of Keppel O&M, specializes in the repair, conversion and upgrading of a diverse range of vessels, in the conversion of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO), Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) and Floating Storage and Re-gasification Units (FSRU).