Keppel FELS delivers its first rig of 2016

Halul is GDI's fifth KFELS B Class rig. Pictured here is the Dukhan

JANUARY 25, 2016 — Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) reports that its Keppel FELS shipyard in Singapore has delivered its first rig of the year. The unit, the Halul, a KFELS B Class jack-up drilling rig, was delivered to Gulf Drilling International Ltd. of Qatar. It was completed on January 21, ten days ahead of schedule, on budget and with a perfect safety record.

Halul is the fifth KFELS B Class jack-up rig delivered to GDI, which has renewed options for two more repeat KFELS B Class rigs for deliveries in 2018 and 2019.

“We are proud to deliver another rig to GDI early and safely. This is our first delivery of the year and we are proud that even in a low oil price environment, the KFELS B Class continues to be the preferred rig in the market for its high quality, efficiency and safety,” said Mr. Wong Kok Seng, Managing Director of Keppel O&M (Offshore) and Keppel FELS. “While there is widespread industry cautiousness, the strong relationships we have built with our long-standing customers, such as GDI, enables us to work together to deliver projects in a win-win fashion.”

The KFELS B Class rigs have a strong track record for GDI. Sister rigs Dukhan and Al Zubarah are operating successfully for Qatar Petroleum, while Al Khor is performing well for Shell.

Mr. Mubarak A. Al-Hajri, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of GDI, said, “We are pleased to receive the Halul ahead of schedule, enabling us to start work earlier for Qatar Petroleum. Reliability, safety, efficiency and quality are our top priorities in choosing a rig and a shipyard. Keppel FELS and the KFELS B Class design have demonstrated their strengths in these areas repeatedly. That is why we have chosen to renew our options for two more rigs with them. We are confident in the long term fundamentals of the industry and when the market recovers, we will be well-equipped to meet the demand.”

Built to GDI’s requirements, the jack-up rig has been designed to operate in the higher ambient temperature of the Middle East. The KFELS B Class is equipped with larger spud cans for reduced bearing pressure and expands its operational coverage in more places, especially in sea beds where soft soil is predominant. The rig can drill wells through 30,000 feet with a cantilever that can skid out 70 feet from the edge of the hull to drill wells. It features offline stand building capabilities and 7,500 PSI mud pumps, with accommodations for 150 persons.Besides newbuild rigs, Nakilat-Keppel O&M, Keppel’s joint venture shipyard in Qatar, recently completed a self-propelled and self-elevating liftboat for GDI.