courtesy Keppel AmFELS

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd.'s shipyard Keppel AmFELS Inc has delivered the jackup drilling rig Offshore Intrepid to Scorpion Intrepid Ltd., a subsidiary of Scorpion Offshore Ltd.

The rig was the fifth LeTourneau Super 116 jackup finished since Scorpion ordered them in 2005. It will was chartered for Odfjell Drilling Services to operate in the Arabian Gulf for 41 months, beginning in second-quarter 2009.

The first two units, Offshore Courageous and Offshore Defender, were delivered in 2007 while the third and fourth, Offshore Resolute and Offshore Vigilant, were delivered in 2008.

Identical to her sister rigs, Offshore Intrepid incorporates a 70-foot cantilever, the maximum reach currently available for all but a few harsh environment units. This rig is capable of working in 350 ft of water as outfitted or in water of depths up to 400 ft through the installation of additional leg sections. Its drilling depth is approximately 30,000 ft.

“While there is a general slowdown in new orders worldwide, the fundamentals in the offshore oil and gas industry still persist," a Keppe statement said, adding, "There is a need for drilling and production activities to support long term demand for energy, and we believe that Keppel AmFELS is well-positioned to capture opportunities arising in the Gulf of Mexico and its surrounding regions.”

Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville, Texas is presently involved in the construction of jackup rigs for Perforadora Central and Rowan Companies.

Tags: Keppel AmFELS Inc.