Keppel FELS wins harsh environment rig contract

The contract includes options for up to three similar units which must be exercised within twelve, 24 and 36 months, respectively, at prices subject to adjustment and to be finalised only if and when the options are declared.
The Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd subsidiary will construct a Moss Maritime CS60 ECO MW version of the ultra-deepwater CS60. The mid-water design is more compact and is configured and fitted out for operation in waters of up to 1,500m.
Awilco Drilling CEO, Jon Oliver Bryce, said: “We see growing activity in the harsh environment mid-water rig segment with utilisation increasing, especially in the North Sea. This will be the third semi to join our fleet. With the options to order another three rigs, we are well positioned for the market recovery.”  
The rig is designed to operate in harsh environments such as the Norwegian Continental Shelf, the UK Continental Shelf and the Barents Sea, areas where demand for rigs has picked up significantly since the beginning of 2017. The rig has a hydraulic hoisting system with more than two million pounds of lifting capacity, a twelve-point thruster-assisted mooring system for station-keeping, and a hybrid power supply with energy saving features. Condition monitoring systems will improve drilling efficiency and rig reliability and reduce the likelihood of downtime.