Keppel FELS Delivers Super Jackup to Hercules Offshore

Keppel FELS has delivered a second harsh environment Super A Class jackup rig to Hercules Offshore of Houston. Hercules Resilience was delivered 45 days ahead of schedule, on budget and with a perfect safety record. The first KFELS Super A Class rig for Hercules, Hercules Triumph, was delivered in April this year.

Designed for the harsh environmental conditions of the UK sector of the North Sea, the ultra-high-specification jackup rig is also able to operate efficiently in virtually all parts of the world outside Norway and the Arctic.

The KFELS Super A Class is equipped with an enhanced leg design which includes a pinion overload detection, rack phase difference detection and brake failure and overload protection devices. In addition to having strong drilling capabilities and cantilever load performance, the KFELS Super A Class has a two million pound hook load drilling system and includes a spacious deck and amenities to accommodate 150 people.

The Hercules rigs have been customised to meet the requirements of Hercules Offshore and are capable of operating in water depths of 400 feet and drilling depths of 35,000 feet.

“These rigs are among the world’s most elite jackup drilling rigs,” says John Rynd, CEO of Hercules Offshore. “The KFELS Super A Class rig provides higher variable load, better drilling capabilities and cantilever load performance as well as a larger deck space and superior accommodation complement. The initial contract for our first rig, Hercules Triumph, which is successfully working for Cairn India in the Indian Ocean drilling a high temperature, high pressure well, demonstrates worldwide versatility of the Super A design.”

This is the third rig of this type to be delivered and another three are under construction for Ensco.