Keppel to Upgrade, Repair Noble Drillships

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), through its subsidiary, Keppel FELS Brasil, has secured contracts from Noble Corporation (Noble) to upgrade and repair two of Noble's Brazil-based drillships for $304m.

The scope of work covers the fabrication, repair and replacement of components, including the stern section, accommodation blocks, sponsons and heliport.

Work on the drillships, Noble Leo Segerius and Noble Roger Eason, will be done sequentially at Keppel’s BrasFELS yard in Angra dos Reis, beginning with the arrival of the first drillship by early 2011. The two deliveries are scheduled between the last quarter of 2011 and the first half of 2012 respectively.

Meanwhile, both parties are in advanced talks on the upgrading of a third Brazil-based drillship operated and majority-owned by Noble.

When completed, Noble Leo Segerius and Noble Roger Eason will be deployed offshore Brazil to meet the requirements of Petrobras’ extensive drilling plans.

BrasFELS has recently completed the upgrade of semisubmersible the Noble Paul Wolff and is currently assisting Noble with the final stages of the company's Noble Dave Beard, which arrived in Brazil earlier this year.