Keppel FELS delivers semisub ENSCO 8501

Offshore staff

SINGAPORE -- Keppel FELS has delivered the ultra deepwater semisubmersible ENSCO 8501 to Ensco International. The vessel is the second of seven ENSCO 8500 Series semis being built for the client.

ENSCO 8501 is contracted for a three-and-a-half-year drilling program in the Gulf of Mexico, scheduled to begin in October.

The ENSCO 8500 Series of ultra deepwater rigs are capable of drilling in 8,500 ft (2,591 m) of water, and may be further upgraded to 10,000 ft (3,048 m) water-depth capability. The vessels have a drilling depth of 35,000 ft (10,668 m) and can accommodate up to 150 workers.

06/08/2009