Ensco acquires Diamond jackup for deep-gas drilling

An Ensco subsidiary has purchased Diamond Offshore’s Ocean Shield jackup, a KFELS Super B Class design delivered in 2008. The rig will be renamed ENSCO 109.

The rig’s design includes two million-lb hoisting capacity, a 15,000-psi high-pressure BOP and nearly 5,000 bbls of liquid mud capacity. These specs make ENSCO 109 ideal for drilling deep gas wells. The design also permits drilling in water depths up to 350 ft to a total depth of 35,000 ft. Ensco pointed out that, industrywide, all KFELS Super B Class jackups are contracted.

Ensco chairman, president and CEO Dan Rabun stated, “The Middle East and Southeast Asia, in particular, are regions where we believe customers will require more high-spec, deep-gas jackup rigs. ENSCO 109 will address this growing need and is expected to command higher day rates than standard duty jackups.”