24 Oct 2012

Keppel FELS delivers Safin’s first KFELS B Class jackup rig

Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has delivered Paradise 400, a high-specification KFELS B Class jackup rig to Safin Gulf FZCO (Safin) ahead of schedule and with a strong safety record.  

The rig is a refurbishment and upgrade of a KFELS B Class jackup rig that Keppel FELS purchased in 2011.

Developed by Keppel's jackup rig design arm, Offshore Technology Development, the KFELS B Class rig is able to operate in water depths of 400 ft with a drilling depth of 30,000 ft. It is equipped with a full 15,000 psi BOP system, 70-feet cantilever outreach, with upgraded mud pit storage capacity of 4,000 bbls and accommodation for up to 150 personnel.

Mr Raimonds Namikis, Executive Vice President of Safin said, "Ordering this rig has been a good investment for us. With the large orderbook that Keppel FELS has, we are pleased to have been able to receive a high specification jackup rig within about a year. This has enabled us to fast track our fleet expansion programme and put the rig out in the market ahead of other operators. We continue to see strong demand for such high specification jackups, from the Middle East to the Gulf of Mexico.

"The KFELS B Class is a proven design and with the Paradise 400's increased specifications, we are confident that it will be a success wherever it operates. This jackup is testament to Keppel FELS' reputation as the world's leading rig builder and designer and the value-add they give to their customers."

The new rig has been upgraded with two additional knuckle boom cranes installed on the port and starboard sides of the cantilever platform to improve efficiency for material handling and promote a safe working environment.

Besides the increased mud pit capacity to improve rig flexibility for mud mixing operations, the latest mud treatment technology such as balanced elliptical motion and cascade shakers have been installed to deliver better throughput capacity.

A compact, fit-for-purpose derrick mounted Bridge Crane has been installed to improve safety and efficiency for offline stand building and pipe racking. Its offline stand building capability enables it to handle drill pipes more efficiently.

Mr Wong Kok Seng, Managing Director of Keppel FELS said, "We are always on the lookout for ways to create win-win situations for our customers. When we saw the opportunity to provide a high quality rig within a compressed time frame, we knew that it would be an attractive option for our customers as such jackups are in high demand, especially for those scheduled for delivery in 2012. Leveraging our expertise as a designer and a builder, we are able to customise rigs to their requirements and deliver safely, within budget and ahead of schedule. We thank Safin for their confidence in us and look forward to supporting them as they grow their fleet of rigs."

Designed for maximum uptime with reduced emissions and discharges, the KFELS B Class rig received the Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2009 from Institution of Engineers Singapore for its environmentally-friendly features.

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About Safin
Safin Gulf FZCO is part of privately owned Safin GmbH which is among the 10 largest independent steel trading and distribution companies in the world. Safin GmbH was established in 1992 and today they have offices in 14 countries with representation by agents in another 42 countries. The head office is in Vienna, Austria.

In addition to steel trading, where the company is active in all the major markets, Safin GmbH is also involved in, amongst other things, mining, where it has won concessions to develop iron ore mines in Kazakhstan, as well as coal and oil trading. Safin GmbH counts among its close clients companies such as Gazprom, VAZ, NLMK, MMK, Mechel, Huyndai, Mitsui, Thyssen Krupp, Sabic-Hadeed, Baosteel, Arcelor-Mittal, Riva Group, Anshang, SSI, Salzgitter, Celsa and more than 400 other clients and customers worldwide.

Safin Gmbh has since 1998 represented Thyssen Krupp subsidiary OW in Russia and Kazakhstan for equipment supplied from German mills under the Deutschbank-Hermes program.

About Keppel FELS
Keppel FELS is a subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), a wholly-owned company of Keppel Corporation Limited. Keppel FELS is a leading designer, builder and repairer of high-performance mobile offshore rigs. Its portfolio of proprietary designs and floating production solutions meets a broad spectrum of operating requirements, including deep waters and harsh environments.

As a group, Keppel O&M is also a leader in ship repair and conversion, and specialised shipbuilding. Its near market, near customer strategy is bolstered by a global network of 20 yards and offices in the Asia Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the Caspian Sea, Middle East and the North Sea regions. Integrating the experience and expertise of its yards worldwide, the group aims to be the provider of choice and partner for solutions for the offshore and marine industry. For more information on Keppel FELS, visit www.keppelfels.com

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