Noble to add high-specification jack-ups to fleet

Noble Corporation and Sembcorp Marine subsidiary Jurong Shipyard have agreed to build two high-specification heavy-duty, harsh environment jack-up rigs in Singapore. The new units are expected to be delivered in Q4 2012 and Q2 2013, respectively. Costs are estimated at about US $220 million per rig. The contract also contains options for up to four additional units.

The Friede and Goldman JU3000N design rigs are about 231 ft in length and 270 ft in breadth and have the capability to operate in water depths up to 400 ft and drill to depths of 30,000 ft. The rigs will each be equipped with a 75-ft cantilever, 2.5 million pounds hook load capacity, a high-capacity mud circulating system and a 15,000-psi blowout preventer system. The units are capable of off-line pipe handling and will be able to accommodate up to 150 people.