Offshore staff

BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- The hull for the rig Offshore Courageous was launched by Keppel AmFELS Inc.

The Brownsville, Texas, based subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. will commence final outfitting, drilling equipment installation, and fitting of leg sections for a May 2007 delivery.

"Fabrication of the other four Scorpion rigs is also on course as scheduled. We expect to begin progressive delivery of the five jackup rigs beginning with the second quarter of 2007," said Keppel AmFELS president and CEO Ho Cheok Yuen.

The other four Scorpion rigs are namedOffshore Defender, Offshore Resolute, Offshore Vigilant, and Offshore Intrepid. All five rigs are built to the LeTourneau Super 116 design, with leg lengths of 145 m (477 ft). Suited for both international operations as well as deep gas drilling in the GoM, the rigs are capable of drilling to 9,144 m (30,000 ft) in 107 m (350 ft) water depths.

11/21/2006