Singapore’s rig builder Keppel FELS is set to deliver a KFELS B Class jackup drilling rig to Star Drilling Pte. Ltd., an associate company of India’s D P Jindal Group (Jindal).
The rig which was named Jindal Explorer at a ceremony in the yard today, is on track to be delivered on time, on budget and with a perfect safety record.
Wong Kok Seng , Managing Director of Keppel O&M (Offshore) and Keppel FELS, said, “We are pleased to deliver a third KFELS B Class jackup rig to Jindal and support their growth as the leading drilling operator in India. This accomplishment is a result of our proven project management and execution capabilities as well as the excellent teamwork with Jindal.
“This is also our 11th rig for Indian customers, all of which are built to our proprietary KFELS B Class design. We understand the needs of our customers and have customised this design to meet Jindal’s requirements for robust jackups able to work in offshore India.”
According to Keppel, the Jindal Explorer is tailored to meet the unique requirements of offshore India’s harsh environment, bearing pressure and rig geometry.
Capable of operating in water depths of 350 feet and drilling down to 30,000 feet, this design also incorporates Keppel’s advanced and fully-automated high capacity rack and pinion elevating system, and Self-Positioning Fixation System.
Raghav Jindal , Director of D P Jindal Group said, “We are glad to add Jindal Explorer to our fleet of high specification jackup rigs. It is tailored to meet the stringent needs of our customers and I am confident that it will be successful wherever it is deployed. The KFELS B Class is a proven design for us with our two jackup rigs DISCOVERY I and VIRTUE I operating successfully without any downtime in offshore India for ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Corporation). Keppel FELS has been a reliable partner for us in ensuring our rigs are cost-efficient and delivered on time to the highest quality and standards.”
According to the Oil & Gas Journal (OGJ), India has nearly 5.7 billion barrels of proven oil reserves at the beginning of 2014 of which 56% are offshore.