ENSCO 8504 ultra-deepwater semisub delivered
Ensco took delivery last week of the ENSCO 8504 ultra-deepwater semisubmersible, the fifth of seven ENSCO 8500 Series rigs scheduled for delivery from Keppel FELS in Singapore. The semi will begin a contract with Total E&P Deep Offshore Borneo BV following mobilization to Brunei to complete sea trials and final outfitting. The initial contract term is for drilling three exploration wells for a minimum of 180 days, and Total has four options for up to nine additional wells.
The proprietary 8500 Series design includes a 35,000-ft nominal rated drilling depth, two million lbs of hoisting capacity, 8,000 tons of variable deck load, and an open layout suited for subsea completion activities. According to Ensco, the uniform design of the 8500 Series streamlines operational functionality, repairs, training, spare part requirements and maintenance while providing flexibility for customer-specific enhancements.
Two additional 8500 Series rigs are under construction, with deliveries expected in the first and second half of 2012.
”Brunei is an emerging deepwater basin, and we look forward to entering this market and expanding our relationship with Total,” Dan Rabun, Ensco chairman, president and CEO said.
