Keppel wins twin jackup rig order from Gulf Drilling at US$393 million:
Key Points
- Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has secured contracts to build two high-specification KFELS B Class Bigfoot jackup rigs from returning customer Gulf Drilling International Ltd. (q.s.c.) (GDI) of Qatar, worth about US$393 million.
- These latest contracts follow closely after Keppel FELS was awarded a newbuild jackup rig contract by one of GDI’s Shareholders, Japan Drilling Company, in March this year.
- Scheduled for delivery in the third quarters of 2013 and 2014, the two latest rigs mark GDI’s first new orders in six years, and will increase the company’s jackup fleet count to seven units.
About Gulf Drilling International Ltd. (q.s.c.)
GDI is a world class drilling service provider offering safe, efficient and innovative drilling services. On May 18, 2004 GDI, was established as the first onshore and offshore oil and gas drilling company in Qatar. GDI was formed as a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum (QP 60%), Qatar’s national oil corporation, and Japan Drilling Co., Ltd. (JDC 40%), a Japanese drilling company with more than 40 years of offshore experience. The paid-up capital was US$ 103.2 Million.
In July 2007, QP acquired another 25% of JDC shares raising their ownership in GDI to 70%. On 12th February 2008, the shares of QP were transferred to Gulf International Services (q.s.c.) (GIS) which became a public shareholding company on 26th May 2008 and is listed on the Qatar Exchange. GIS now holds 70% of the shares of GDI.
GDI is a growth-oriented company. GDI’s rig fleet has grown to nine rigs and its workforce to 830 employees. It currently operates a fleet consisting of five offshore jack-up rigs and four land rigs. GDI is already the owner of two jack-up rigs built by Keppel FELS; the Al-Khor, delivered in December 2006 and the Al-Zubarah, delivered in February 2008.
For more information on GDI, please visit www.gdi.com.qa
