Keppel to build Awilco's mid-water rig for US$425m

It will be used for operations in harsh environment like in Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Keppel Offshore & Marine’s wholly-owned subsidiary Keppel FELS will construct a mid-water semisubmersible drilling rig for Awilco Drilling PLC worth about US$425m.

According to Keppel, the rig will be built to Moss Maritime’s CS60 ECO MW design, which is configured and outfitted for mid-water operations of up to depths of 1500m.

It will be equipped with a hydraulic hoisting system capable of two million pounds of lifting capacity, and a 12 point thruster assisted mooring system for vessel station keeping. The rig will be designed for operations in harsh environment like in Norwegian Continental Shelf, UK Continental shelf and Barents Sea.

“We see growing activity in the harsh environment mid-water rig segment with utilisation increasing, especially in the North Sea. This will be the third semi to join our fleet. With the options to order another three rigs, we are well positioned for the market recovery,” said Jon Oliver Bryce, CEO of Awilco Drilling PLC, in a press release.

The mid-water semisubmersible drilling rig is scheduled for completion in Q1 2021.