ENSCO has taken delivery of the Ensco 8504.
It is the fifth of the seven Ensco 8500 Series ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs constructed by Keppel FELS in Singapore.
After mobilising to Brunei to complete deepwater sea trials and final outfitting, the rig will then start on a drilling contract with the Borneo arm of French energy major Total, which sees Brunei as an emerging deepwater petroleum basin.
The proprietary design of the ENSCO 8500 Series includes a 10,668m (35,000ft) nominal rated drilling depth, hoisting capacity worth £2million, 8,000 tons of variable deck load, and an open layout well suited for subsea completion activities.
In addition, the 8500 Series may be modified to drill and complete wells in water depths to 3,048m (10,000ft).
Two further 8500 Series rigs are under construction, with deliveries scheduled for the first and second half of next year.
Speaking about the performance of the 8500 Series rigs, Daniel Rabun, Ensco’s chief executive, said hefty investment in the deepwater capability semi-submersibles was paying off.
“The remaining rigs in the 8500 Series are scheduled to be delivered on time and on budget, and the advantages of standardisation across the entire seven rig series are becoming more evident every day,” said Mr Rabun.
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