courtesy Ensco

Keppel FELS Ltd. will build its forth “ultra-deepwater” semi-submersible drill rig for a subsidiary of U.S.-based drilling contractor ENSCO, a work order worth $427 million for the Singapore yard.

The Ensco 8503 will leave the busy Keppel wharf assembled in July 2010. It’ll be the 11th rig, including nine jack-ups, Keppel has under order.

Keppel FELS delivered its ninth jack-up rig, the ENSCO 108, to ENSCO in March 2007. Under the builder’s torch are semis ENSCO 8500, ENSCO 8501 and ENSCO 8502 aimed at deliveries in second-quarter 2008, first-quarter 2009 and year-end 2009.

ENSCO 8500 and ENSCO 8501 will mobilize direct to long-term drilling contracts already secured. The three “new-build semis” are said to be “on-track” delivery wise.

In 10 years, ENSCO has chosen the Keppel O&M Group for US$4.5 billion in construction and repair projects.

The trademark, high-spec 8500 Series rigs will be able to drill in water 8,500 feet deep and can upgrade for depths of up to 10,000 ft.

A statement said kit includes a quad derrick, offline pipe-handling capability, more drilling capacity, greater variable deck load, and improved automatic station-keeping ability.

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