Premium Drilling News

Chiles Offshore LLC, the 55-percent owned unit of offshore oil exploration company Seacor Smit Inc., has filed for an initial public offering of 8 million common shares in a range of $17-$19 each. Chiles owns and operates ultra-premium jack-up drilling rigs -- mobile offshore drilling platforms with legs that lower to the ocean floor to support the platform while drilling. Ultra-premium rigs differ from other drilling rigs because of their greater depth capabilities and more powerful mud pumps that speed up well drilling. According to papers filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Houston-based firm has applied for an American Stock Exchange listing. A ticker symbol will be disclosed later.

Rowan Companies, Inc. entered into contracts with Keppel AmFELS, Inc. for the construction of four Super 116E class jack-ups. The rigs will be built at AmFELS' Brownsville, Texas shipyard, with delivery scheduled at approximately four-month intervals beginning in the second quarter of 2010. Rowan's total cost of each rig is expected to average approximately $175 million, with more than one-third of that amount attributable to the cost value of the design, kit components and drilling equipment to be provided by the Company's manufacturing businesses. Rowan will also build two additional 240-C class jack-ups at its own Vicksburg, Mississippi shipyard for delivery in the third quarters of 2010 and 2011, at a total cost of approximately $400 million.

Awilco Offshore through Premium Drilling has entered into a Contract with Premier Oil Vietnam Offshore BV (Premier) for the jack-up drilling rig, WilBoss. The contract with Premier is for 6 months operation offshore Vietnam. If the firm contract period is increased to 12 months prior to commencement, Premier will be given an option for a further 12 month period. The firm contract value for 6 months is approximately $40m. The contract is to commence during the first quarter 2008. WilBoss is under construction at KeppelFELS Shipyard in Singapore and is scheduled for delivery at the end of the fourth quarter 2007. WilBoss is Awilco Offshore's fourth jack-up newbuilding and is equipped for high pressure/ high temperature drilling in water depths up to 400ft.

Keppel AmFELS Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M), is on course to a timely delivery of Scorpion Offshore Ltd.’s first jackup drilling rig at the end of May 2007. The ultra premium drilling rig, Offshore Courageous, is the first of five jackups that Keppel AmFELS is constructing for Scorpion Offshore. The other four rigs are Offshore Defender, Offshore Resolute, Offshore Vigilant and Offshore Intrepid. Mr Ho Cheok Yuen, President and CEO of Keppel AmFELS, said, “Keppel AmFELS and Scorpion Offshore share a win-win partnership. The close collaboration and open communication between the teams are key factors that contributed to the success of the project. “As with many shipyards worldwide, Keppel AmFELS is faced with high level of activities.

Lady Sponsor Mrs Evelynn Worum (centre, in red) names Deep Driller 3 as Mr Michael Chia, Executive Director of Keppel FELS (to the right of Mrs Worum) and Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman & CEO of Keppel O&M (extreme right) look on. Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) is on course to deliver another KFELS Super B Class jackup drilling rig to repeat customer, Sinvest ASA (Sinvest) on time and within budget. Mrs Evelynn Worum, Lady Sponsor and wife of Mr Geir Worum, Chairman of Sinvest, named the rig Deep Driller 3 at a ceremony on 14 October 2006 at Keppel FELS. The jackup drilling rig is the second of five KFELS Super B Class rigs that Keppel FELS is constructing for Sinvest. The first rig, Deep Driller 2, was delivered on time in April 2006.

Hardy Oil and Gas recently announced that its subsidiary, Hardy Exploration & Production Inc., has entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of Sinvest ASA (the Deep Drilling Invest Group) for the drilling of two wells on the CY-OS2 block, OilVoice reports. The contract term is for a period of two wells, with an estimated duration of around 130 days. The contract is targeted to commence in the second quarter of 2006, drilling to depths of 3,500 m. subsea at a cost of approximately $24 million. The drilling will be performed by Premium Drilling with the unit Deep Drilling I, a new Baker Marine 375 'Pacific Class' jackup designed to work in up to 375 ft. water depths that is currently under construction at PPL Shipyard in Singapore.