World’s biggest jack-up nearing Norway (Gallery)

XLE 2, one of the world’s largest jack-up drilling rigs, is only a couple of days away from its final destination, Norway.

Maersk Drilling, Danish offshore drilling contractor, has shared an image of the rig fixed on board the ‘Hawk’ heavy lift and transportation vessel. The XLE 2 jack-up rig was recently delivered by Singapore’s Keppel shipyard.

In an update issued yesterday, Maersk revealed that the rig was 1076 miles away from Norway. According to information from Fleetmon, the Hawk is currently passing by Calais, France, and is expected to reach Stavanger, Norway, in two days.

The jack-up rig, described by the owner and its builder as the largest of the type in the world, set out on a 12,345 nautical miles long journey in August this year.

Upon arrival in Norway, the rig will be named, prior to starting its five-year contract with Det norske in the North Sea.

The large jack-up, with 206.8 meters long legs, and designed for year round operations in the North Sea in water depths up to 150 meters, will be used for drilling at the Ivar Aasen development.