Keppel FELS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), is on track to deliver PV Drilling VI, a KFELS B Class jackup rig, to PV Drilling Overseas (PVDO), a subsidiary of PetroVietnam Drilling & Well Services Corp (PV Drilling) on time and on budget.
PV Drilling VI is the 100th jackup rig Keppel FELS has built since 1970, of which more than half are based on the KFELS B Class design.
The KFELS B Class rig is be able to operate in water depths of up to 400 ft with a drilling depth of 30,000 ft. PV Drilling VI has been further enhanced with features like engines that meet more stringent emission standards, increased capacity for mud pit tanks, a secondary tensioning system, accommodation for 150 persons as well as a lower spud can bearing pressure for operation in areas with soft soil conditions.
“PV Drilling VI is PVDO’s first jack-up rig, and will play an important role in accelerating PVDO’s drilling program for South East Asia and beyond. We recognize the strength of the KFELS B Class rigs as the three rigs that are operating for PV Drilling have been performing very well,” said Pham Tien Dung, CEO of PV Drilling and chairman of PVDO.
Keppel O&M, active in Vietnam since the 1980s and delivered Vietnam’s first jack up rig, the Tam Dao I, in 1988 and is responsible for PV Drilling’s modern fleet of three KFELS B Class jackup rigs – PV Drilling I, PV Drilling II and PV Drilling III - as well as Vietnam’s first semisubmersible drilling tender (SSDT).