Keppel FELS has delivered the third DSSTM 21 deepwater semisubmersible drilling rig to Maersk Drilling 43 days ahead of schedule and with a perfect safety record, garnering a bonus of US $400,000.

As tradition bids the name of the rig will be revealed at a ceremony at the yard on Sunday, May 16, 2010.

Claus V. Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling said, "The Maersk-Keppel partnership, spanning a decade, has achieved considerable milestones together.

"Now, with the addition of Maersk Deepwater Semi III, our high-specification DSSTM 21 rig fleet which is in the league of some of the world's most advanced deepwater rigs will help position Maersk Drilling as the leading offshore solutions provider in the industry.

Keppel O&M is the only shipyard group in the world to have its own suite of proprietary deepwater rig designs. Jointly developed and owned by the Keppel's Deepwater Technology Group and Marine Structure Consultants, the DSSTM Series of deepwater rigs are designed for maximum uptime with reduced emissions and discharges.

"The demand for modern drillings rigs has increased over the past years concurrently with the growing technical challenges we are faced with in the drilling industry. The search for new finds is moving to deeper waters and areas with complex soil conditions and more advanced drilling rigs are needed to meet those challenges. Our ultra deepwater semisubmersibles are well equipped to meet this demand," Hemmingsen added.

DSSTM Series rigs are highly cost effective exploration units capable of drilling down 10,000 m (30,000 ft) wells and operating at a water depth of 3,000 m (10,000 ft). The Series also features a dynamic positioning system, with the ability to attach to a prelaid mooring system.

DSSTM Series rigs are particularly well suited to drill deep and complicated wells in areas such as offshore West Africa, Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Asia, and may be further customised to meet the unique challenges of each location.

Tags: Keppel AmFELS Inc.