Keppel FELS delivers jackup to Diamond Offshore

Offshore staff

SINGAPORE -- Keppel FELS Ltd. has delivered its KFELS Super B Class jackup drilling rig to Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc.

TheOcean Shield marks the 20th KFELS B Class drilling rig constructed by Keppel FELS since the launch of this design in 2000. It will also be the first of two KFELS B Class designed rigs commissioned by Diamond Offshore in 2005. The second is being built by Keppel FELS sister company, Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville, Texas.

The KFELS Super B Class rigs are an enhanced version of the KFELS B Class and are equipped with cantilever skid-off capabilities and high capacity hook loads of 2 million pounds for operation in high-temperature/high-pressure wells. TheOcean Shield will be capable of operating in water depths of up to 350 ft (107 m).

Additionally, Diamond Offshore's Victory-class semisubmersible, theOcean Monarch is being upgraded to an ultra deepwater drilling unit capable of drilling in water depths of up to 10,000 ft (3,048 m), at Keppel FELS and is due for completion late in 2008.

04/29/2008