Dubai based offshore fabrication firm Lamprell has completed the second Caspian Sea jackup drilling rig, the Mercury.
Lamprell said completion of the rig, the EDC-2, built for Eurasia Drilling, was a milestone for the group, particularly as it has been built under challenging conditions, but with an excellent safety record and several weeks ahead of schedule.
The Mercury is the second unit Lamprell has built for this client. Delivery will take place in the coming month and the rig is then expected to start operations on its first contract in the Caspian Sea alongside its sister unit, the Neptune, delivered in November 2013.
A number of key operational improvements, learned from this first rig project, were successfully implemented on the Mercury project, allowing Lamprell to complete as planned.
Jim Moffat, CEO of Lamprell, said: "I am delighted to report that we have completed the second drilling rig for use in the Caspian Sea, not only because of the significant beneficial impact on this year's results but also because of the exemplary safety record on a highly complex project in a remote location. As a result of the close teamwork between the Lamprell and client teams, the project achieved nearly 4 million man hours without a day away from work which is a world class achievement. Our strong operational performance both in the UAE and Astrakhan allowed us to take advantage of the milder recent weather and complete construction activities on the rig ahead of schedule.”
