Rig: West Ariel

Seadrill secures multiple new jackup contracts

Seadrill Ltd (Seadrill) has secured new contracts for a number of its operational jackup rigs, including the ‘West Tucana’, ‘West Telesto’, ‘West Ariel’ and ‘West Prospero’. Alongside these four new contracts, the company also secured an extension to the ‘West Mischief’ jackup rigs existing contract. The ’West Tucana’ has been contracted for work in Angola with Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC) – Chevron’s wholly owned operating unit in the country. The contract is for a firm 24 month period and is valued at US$168 million, beginning in late November 2014. The ‘West Telesto’ has been contracted to drill two wells for Origin Energy Ltd in Australia. The contract is expected to be for 51 days per well, plus two option wells that can be exercised. The unit is expected to begin operations in Q4 2014, following the completion of its existing contract in Vietnam. The ‘West Ariel’ has been contracted by Eni Congo SA, for drilling operations in the Republic of Congo. The unit which has just finished a contract with VietsovPetro in Vietnam will enter a shipyard in Vietnam before it mobilises to begin the newly awarded contract in late April/early May 2014. The contract is for a firm period of 12 months, with an additional 12 month option and is valued at US$89 million. The ‘West Prospero’ has been contracted to drill a single well for JVPC in Vietnam. The contract is expected to commence in April 2014, following on from the completion of its existing contract and is valued at US$6.5 million. Seadrill estimates that it will take the ‘West Prospero’ 40 days to complete the well.

Keppel FELS delivers KFELS B Class rig to SeaDrill three days ahead of time

Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M), has completed its fourth KFELS B class jackup rig for SeaDrill Limited (SeaDrill) within budget and three days ahead of schedule. This is Keppel O&M’s sixth jackup rig delivery this year, with five from Keppel FELS and one from Keppel AmFELS. In keeping with the naming tradition for all of SeaDrill’s other drilling units, this rig has been christened with the name of a celestial body, West Ariel. This KFELS B Class rig will have the capability of operating in water depths of up to 400 feet, has a drilling depth of 30,000 feet and can accommodate 112 men.