Keppel FELS clinches $110M rig order

Keppel FELS Limited (KFELS), the offshore arm of Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd. (Keppel FELS), has signed a contract with Chiles Offshore LLC (Chiles) to build a $110 million jack-up rig of KFELS MOD V "B" design, cantilevered jack-up rig. Work is expected to start immediately, with delivery scheduled for around the second quarter of 2002. This rig is one of KFELS' ultra-premium proprietary jack-up designs which has been modified in this case for non-harsh environment usage. It is designed to be able to exceed the operating capabilities of conventional non-harsh environment jack-up rigs and will be built to a leg length of 475 ft., with an option to extend this to 545 ft. "Our goal is to augment our position in the ultra-premium, deep-water jack-up market niche. We believe, in the next three to five years the demand for high productivity jack-ups will increase. The new rig will embrace digital technology and state-of-the-art information and communication systems," said William Chiles, CEO and President of Chiles, "The new KFELS MOD V "B" platform, jacking systems and their configuration incorporate modern engineering concepts that improve productivity, enhance safety, and provide added independence from supply lines and environmental conditions. It is designed to exceed the standards of what has recently been regarded as the best ultra-premium jack-up rig standards," said Tong Chong Heong, Managing Director of KFELS. Chiles recently took delivery of two ultra-premium, deep-water jack-up rigs, the Chiles Columbus and the Chiles Magellan which were built at Keppel FELS' subsidiary AMFELS in Brownsville, Texas. Chiles is a provider of contract drilling services to the worldwide offshore oil and gas industry.