Fast-growing drilling contractor Ensco has ordered a further “premium” jack-up from Keppel FELS of Singapore with a price tag of some $225million.
Ensco 110 is based on the proven Keppel FELS B Class Bigfoot design and is due for delivery early 2015.
The fixed-price deal covers commissioning, systems integration testing and project management.
Justifying the decision, Ensco’s chairman, Dan Rabun, said the current market for premium jack-ups is very strong and the trend is expected to continue.
He described customer demand as being broad-based for high-spec units such as the Bigfoot as this class of rig can work in virtually every shallow water basin around the world.
Three of the company’s current fleet . . . Ensco 106, 107 and 08, are also based on the KFELS B Class Bigfoot design, which is one of the cornerstones of the company’s push towards standardisation of its offering wherever possible.
John Knowlton, senior VP-technical, said of this approach: “Design standardisation allows us to staff, operate and maintain our rigs more efficiently, and our customers reap the benefits of this through increased reliability.”
The KFELS B Class Bigfoot design is capable of working in water depths to 122m (400ft), with a maximum drilling depth of 3,048m (30,000ft).
Ensco 110 will have a nominal variable deck load of 7,500 kips and a cantilever load of 2,500 kips. It also has a 1.5 million-pounds derrick, TDS-8 top drive and 15,000psi BOP (blow-out preventer). This rig is being customised to add dual drilling fluid capability.
This latest commitment brings the company’s new tonnage order-book to seven, comprising four jack-ups and three ultra-deepwater drillships.
The two jack-ups and one drillship are scheduled for delivery this year and will go on hire as soon as they have been commissioned.