William Chiles News

Keppel FELS Limited, the world leader in the construction of jackup rigs, has successfully designed and built its first KFELS MOD V “B” class ultra premium jackup drilling unit. Built for Chiles Offshore Inc. (AMEX: "COD") (CHILES), Chiles Discovery is the benchmark for a new generation of ultra premium deep-well drilling rigs. Keppel FELS received an early delivery bonus for Chiles Discovery, a testament of its excellent project management and executing capabilities. The company was also awarded bonuses for good safety performance, as well as delivering a rig that exceeds its original design parameters. The Chiles Discovery showcases…

Keppel FELS Limited (KFELS), the offshore arm of Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd. (Keppel FELS), has signed a contract with Chiles Offshore LLC (Chiles) to build a $110 million jack-up rig of KFELS MOD V "B" design, cantilevered jack-up rig. Work is expected to start immediately, with delivery scheduled for around the second quarter of 2002. This rig is one of KFELS' ultra-premium proprietary jack-up designs which has been modified in this case for non-harsh environment usage. It is designed to be able to exceed the operating capabilities of conventional non-harsh environment jack-up rigs and will be built to a leg length of 475 ft., with an option to extend this to 545 ft. "Our goal is to augment our position in the ultra-premium, deep-water jack-up market niche.

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2000, the Chiles Offshore reported net income of $4,401,000 on revenues of $16,752,000. In the corresponding quarter ended December 31, 1999, the company reported a net loss of $2,234,000 on revenues of $5,274,000. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2000, and excluding the effect of certain one time, non-cash charges related to the September 22, 2000 initial public offering of common stock, the company reported net income of $11,559,000 on revenues of $56,006,000. In the corresponding 12 months ended December 31, 1999, the company reported a net loss of $3,963,000 on revenues of $8,596,000. On July 20, 2000 the company entered into an agreement with Perforadora Central, S.A. de C.V.

Chiles Offshore LLC is the operator of three of seven existing ultra-premium jackup drilling rigs, all of which currently operate in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The company owns two of these rigs, the Chiles Columbus and the Chiles Magellan, and operates the third, the Tonala, under a bareboat charter. Ultra-premium jackup drilling rigs are differentiated from other jackup drilling rigs primarily by their greater water depth capabilities, an ability to extend the drilling system over larger fixed offshore platforms and more powerful mud pumps that allow them to drill wells faster and more reliably than other rigs. A fourth ultra-premium jackup rig is being built in Singapore and expected for delivery during the second quarter of 2002. On Feb.

Chiles Offshore Inc. today announced that it has executed a Notice of Award for a long-term contract by an affiliate of Phillips Petroleum for its ultra-premium jackup drilling rig the Chiles Discovery, currently under construction at the Keppel FELS Shipyard in Singapore. the end of June 2002 in Phillips' Bayu Undan Gas Recycle Project, located in Area A of the Timor Gap Zone of Cooperation between Australia and East Timor. The contract is expected to last for a minimum of 600 days (15 wells). Phillips will have options to extend the contract for up to an additional five wells (estimated up to 200 days). Assuming work is performed under the contract for 600 days, contract revenues will approximate $60 million, exclusive of mobilization and de-mobilization fees.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2001, Chiles Offshore Inc. reported net income of $5.0 million or $0.28 per basic share compared to net income of $3.3 million, or $0.42 per basic share, reported for the corresponding quarter ended June 30, 2000. Revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, was $19.6 million compared to revenue of $14.5 million for the corresponding quarter ended June 30, 2000. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2001, the Company reported net income of $10.3 million or $0.59 per basic share, on revenue of $38.2 million. Net income for the comparable period in 2000 was $3.1 million or $0.45 per basic share on revenue of $23.0 million.

Chiles Offshore has executed two firm nine-month contract extensions with Shell Exploration & Production Company for the use of the ultra-premium jackup drilling rigs the Chiles Magellan and the Chiles Columbus in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The Chiles Magellan has worked for Shell since May 2000 on a well-to-well basis and will start its nine-month contract period at the beginning of August 2001. The Chiles Columbus recently began working for Shell and will start its nine-month contract period at the beginning of September 2001. "We are pleased to extend our excellent working relationship with Shell, which began over one year ago with the Chiles Magellan and now also includes the Chiles Columbus.

Chiles Offshore Inc. (COD) has executed a three-year contract with BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC for the use of the ultra-premium jackup drilling rig the Chiles Coronado, (formerly known as the "Tonala"). The Chiles Coronado is currently undergoing limited modifications and upgrades before leaving the Gulf of Mexico for Trinidad. The rig is currently expected to arrive in Trinidad during the month of September. During the contract period, contract revenues are estimated to approximate $80 million, exclusive of mobilization and de-mobilization fees. William Chiles, President and Chief Executive Officer said "We are very pleased to have been…