Maersk Drilling has ordered a new ultra-harsh environment jack-up rig, XL Enhanced 4, to be built at the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard in South Korea. The rig is scheduled for delivery in mid-2016. The total project cost for the rig is USD 650M, including a turnkey contract with the yard, owner-furnished equipment, project management and capitalised interest. The contract with DSME includes pricing options for delivery of up to two additional units with delivery in 2016/2017.
The new rig is of the same class as the three ultra harsh jack-up rigs, XL Enhanced 1-3, ordered in February 2011 and May 2012 currently under construction at Keppel FELS in Singapore. The four XL Enhanced ultra harsh environment jack-up rigs are based on the design of the Mærsk Innovator and the Mærsk Inspirer. The four rigs that will be delivered from the yards in 2014 to 2016 have all secured long-term contracts. The four rigs are designed to operate in the harsh environment found in the North Sea and comply with all rules and regulations in the strictly regulated Norwegian sector.
The rig order is backed by a 5-year contract with BP Norway for plug and abandonment work on the Valhall field in the Norwegian North Sea.
