Fifth ENSCO 8500 Series® Rig To Join the Active Fleet
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ensco plc (NYSE: ESV) announced today that it has taken delivery of
ENSCO 8504, the fifth of the seven ENSCO 8500 Series® rigs
constructed by Keppel FELS Limited in Singapore. After mobilizing to
Brunei to complete deepwater sea trials and final outfitting, ENSCO 8504
will commence a previously announced drilling contract with Total E&P
Deep Offshore Borneo B.V.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Rabun commented, "We
are very pleased that Total has chosen ENSCO 8504 for its drilling
program. Our 8500 Series rigs have performed extremely well for our
customers and we are realizing significant benefits from the uniform
design and standardization across the entire series.”
Mr. Rabun added, “Brunei is an emerging deepwater basin and we look
forward to entering this market and expanding our relationship with
Total.”
The proprietary design of the ENSCO 8500 Series® was
developed with extensive input from customers to address the drilling
requirements for virtually every deepwater field around the world. The
design includes a 35,000’ nominal rated drilling depth, two million
pounds of hoisting capacity, 8,000 tons of variable deck load and an
open layout well suited for subsea completion activities. Improved
visibility from the open deck configuration also enhances safety.
The uniform design of the ENSCO 8500 Series® streamlines
operational functionality, repairs, training, spare part requirements
and maintenance, while also providing flexibility for customer specific
enhancements. In particular, the 8500 Series may be modified to drill
and complete wells in water depths up to 10,000’.
Two additional ENSCO 8500 Series® rigs are under construction
with deliveries scheduled for the first and second half of next year.
Ensco has the world’s newest ultra-deepwater drilling fleet comprised of
drillships and semisubmersibles that operate in multiple markets around
the globe, including Brazil, West Africa, U.S. Gulf of Mexico,
Mediterranean and Asia.
Ensco plc (NYSE: ESV) brings energy to the world as a global provider of
offshore drilling services to the petroleum industry. We have the
world’s second largest offshore drilling fleet comprised of
dynamically-positioned drillships and semisubmersibles, moored
semisubmersibles and premium jackups. Ensco is ranked #1 for overall
customer satisfaction in the leading independent survey conducted by
EnergyPoint Research with #1 ratings in 14 of 16 separate categories. To
learn more about Ensco, please visit our website at www.enscoplc.com.
Ensco plc is an English limited company (England No. 7023598) with its
registered office and corporate headquarters located at 6 Chesterfield
Gardens, London W1J 5BQ.
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include words or phrases such as
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,”
“project,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “will” and similar words
and specifically include statements regarding expected dayrates and
backlog; and the timing of delivery, mobilization, contract
commencement, relocation or other movement of rigs. Such
statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions
that may cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated,
including governmental regulatory, legislative and permitting
requirements affecting drilling operations; future downtime and other
risks associated with offshore rig operations, relocations, severe
weather or hurricanes; possible cancellation or suspension of drilling
contracts as a result of mechanical difficulties, performance or other
reasons; risks inherent to shipyard rig construction, repair,
maintenance or enhancement; actual contract commencement dates;
governmental action, civil unrest and political and economic
uncertainties; and terrorism, piracy and military action. In
addition to the numerous factors described above, you should also
carefully read and consider “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I and “Item
7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” in Part II of our most recent annual report on
Form 10-K, as updated in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q,
which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov
or on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.enscoplc.com.
Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the
particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward looking statements, except as required by law.
Source: Ensco plc