Gulf Drilling takes delivery of Halul jackup, renews options for two more rigs

Keppel FELS has delivered Halul to Gulf Drilling International (GDI) of Qatar. The KFELS B Class jackup was completed on 21 January, 10 days ahead of schedule, on budget and with a perfect safety record. It is the first rig that Keppel FELS has delivered this year.

Halul is also the fifth KFELS B Class jackup delivered to GDI, which has renewed options for two more repeat KFELS B Class rigs for deliveries in 2018 and 2019. Halul’s sister rigs Dukhan and Al Zubarah are operating for Qatar Petroleum while Al Khor is performing well for Shell.

“We are pleased to receive the Halul ahead of schedule, enabling us to start work earlier for Qatar Petroleum,” Mubarak A. Al-Hajri, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of GDI, said. “Reliability, safety, efficiency and quality are our top priorities in choosing a rig and a shipyard. Keppel FELS and the KFELS B Class design have demonstrated their strengths in these areas repeatedly. That is why we have chosen to renew our options for two more rigs with them. We are confident in the long-term fundamentals of the industry, and when the market recovers, we will be well-equipped to meet the demand.”

Built to GDI’s requirements, the jackup has been designed to operate in the higher ambient temperature of the Middle East. The KFELS B Class is equipped with larger spud cans for reduced bearing pressure and expands its operational coverage in more places, especially in seabeds where soft soil is predominant. The rig can drill wells through 30,000 ft with a cantilever that can skid out 70 ft from the edge of the hull to drill wells. It features offline stand building capabilities and 7,500-psi mud pumps, with accommodation for 150 people.

“We are proud to deliver another rig to GDI early and safely,” Wong Kok Seng, Managing Director of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Offshore), said. “This is our first delivery of the year, and we are proud that even in a low oil price environment, the KFELS B Class continues to be the preferred rig in the market for its high quality, efficiency and safety.

“While there is widespread industry cautiousness, the strong relationships we have built with our long-standing customers, such as GDI, enables us to work together to deliver projects in a win-win fashion.”