Keppel Delivers Arabian Drilling Company Rig

Keppel delivers its 45th KFELS B Class jackup rig with another 18 such rigs on order.

These KFELS B Class rigs make up more than 30% of the total jackups completed globally since 2000.

The rig was delivered to Arabian Drilling Company (ADC) 14 days ahead of schedule, on budget and with a perfect safety record. Keppel FELS earning them an early delivery bonus of US$210,000.

Named ArabDrill 50 at a ceremony, the rig will be chartered to Saudi Aramco for operations in offshore Saudi Arabia. The innovative and cost-effective KFELS B Class jackup rig has proven to be the trusted, reliable workhorse of the industry, and has performed excellently in major offshore exploration and development programmes in various locations worldwide. It has been employed by some 20 international drilling operators in over 15 countries.

Developed by Keppel's technology arm, Offshore Technology Development (OTD), the KFELS B Class jackup design is able to operate in water depths of up to 400 feet and drill to depths of 30,000 feet which is readily upgradeable to higher performance capabilities.

The robust rig incorporates Keppel's advanced and fully-automated high capacity rack and pinion jacking system, and Self-Positioning Fixation System.

Mr Chow Yew Yuen, Chief Operating Officer of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) said, “We are pleased to have reached this significant milestone of 45 KFELS B Class rigs delivered with another exemplary delivery to a valued customer."