Singapore: PV Drilling has issued Keppel FELS with a Letter of Award for a new tender assist rig built to its KFELS SSDT 3600E design. The formal contract for the rig is expected to be finalised shortly in December 2009 and the rig is slated for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2011. Tong Chong Heong, ceo of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), parent company of Keppel FELS, said, "We are pleased that PV Drilling has chosen to reinforce our strong partnership with a contract to build a landmark rig for them. They have made the right choice in selecting the KFELS SSDT 3600E, which has a proven track record for operational performance and Health, Safety and Environment. We are confident that this rig will perform to their highest satisfaction, and look forward to deliver her on time, within budget and without incidents." Developed by Keppel O&M's Deepwater Technology Group (DTG), the revolutionary KFELS SSDT 3600E design allows drilling tenders to be deployed next to deepwater floating platforms for the first time. The enhanced capabilities of this particular series allows the rigs to operate and maintain station keeping in deep waters of up to 5,000 ft alongside Spars and Tension Leg Platforms. According to Keppel, this design is "highly suitable for offshore Vietnam's harsh environment and features an 8-point mooring system, which allows the rig to maintain its position amidst currents of up to six knots." Keppel FELS has been involved in the Vietnamese offshore market for about 25 years. Prior to the new tender assist rig, Keppel FELS was also engaged to build PV Drilling's modern fleet of three KFELS B Class jackup rigs. The rigs have been delivered ahead of schedule and with outstanding safety records, the latest being PV Drilling III in November 2009. [23/11/09]
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.
