LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ensco plc (NYSE: ESV) reported that a vendor, GE Oil & Gas, recently
communicated that certain batches of bolts used in offshore drilling
should be inspected for possible replacement. GE Oil & Gas issued
notices regarding these bolts after a competitor’s rig experienced
operational problems in connection with the bolts. Ensco’s rigs have not
experienced any operational problems related to the bolts, used in H4
connectors, which connect a lower marine riser package to a wellhead.
Immediately upon receipt of the notice from GE Oil & Gas, Ensco began an
evaluation of its fleet to determine which rigs have H4 connectors with
bolts identified in the notice. Ensco’s jackup fleet and seven ENSCO
8500 Series® floater rigs are not affected by the GE Oil &
Gas notices. For certain other floaters in the Company’s fleet, the
relevant bolts have already been replaced. On the remaining floaters,
the relevant bolts are scheduled for evaluation, and, where appropriate,
will be replaced. The Company will provide an update on this issue in
its regularly scheduled monthly fleet status report to be issued in
mid-February.
The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issued
instructions to operators requiring drilling contractors to inspect the
relevant bolts for possible replacement. Ensco is working through this
process, and in all cases, spare bolts are on hand or can be
re-qualified from the Company’s available stock to replace the relevant
bolts. Ensco has also secured new bolts to augment inventory.
Ensco plc (NYSE: ESV) brings energy to the world as a global provider of
offshore drilling services to the petroleum industry. With a fleet of
ultra-deepwater semisubmersible and premium jackup drilling rigs, Ensco
serves customers with high-quality equipment, a well-trained workforce
and a strong record of safety and reliability. To learn more about
Ensco, please visit our website at www.enscoplc.com.
Ensco plc is registered in England No. 7023598 with offices 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.
Such statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that may cause actual results to vary materially from those
indicated, including downtime and other risks associated with offshore
rig operations; governmental action and political and economic
uncertainties; and governmental regulatory, legislative and permitting
requirements affecting drilling operations, including additional safety
and certification requirements that may subject us to increased costs
and/or delay the recommencing of operations for the affected rigs. 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