Keppel AmFELS LLC was awarded a contract from Central Panuco S.A. De C.V to build a KFELS B Class jackup rig worth US$240 million.
Scheduled for delivery in late 2015, the jackup rig is intended for operations in offshore Mexico.
This news comes on the heels of Keppel’s other big October announcement: Keppel Offshore & Marine, Keppel AmFELS’ parent company, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PEMEX Exploración y Producción to jointly develop, own and operate a yard facility in Mexico specializing in construction, maintenance, and repair of platforms and other larger vessels. The total yard development cost will be around US$400 million, with the first phase estimated at about US$150 million. Under the first phase of the MOU, Keppel will construct six KFELS B class jackup drilling rigs.
Built to Keppel's market-established KFELS B Class design, the rig will be able to operate in water depths of up to 400 feet, drill to depths of 30,000ft.
To date, Keppel AmFELS has completed Tonala, an ultra premium KFELS B Class jackup rig for Perforadora Central in 2004, followed by Tuxpan, a LeTourneau S116E rig in 2010. The Papaloapan jackup, which was ordered by Perforadora Central in March 2011, was successfully delivered in April this year. Currently under construction is the Coatzacoalcos jackup which is on track for completion in 1Q 2014.
With this latest contract, a total of 13 KFELS B Class jackup rigs have been ordered for the Mexican market since 2010.
“We have steadily built up a strong partnership with [Perforadora Central, parent company of Central Panuco] and are pleased that our valued customer is once again entrusting us with a newbuild order for the Mexican market,” Chairman of Keppel AmFELS, COO and CEO-Designate of Keppel O&M Chow Yew Yuen said.
Keppel O&M has a total of 20 projects delivered or on order for Mexico including this new order. Of the 20 projects, 15 are of Keppel's proprietary KFELS B Class design. They are developed by Keppel's technology arm, Offshore Technology Development.
Image is of Keppel's KFELS B Class jackup.
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