Offshore staff
DOHA, Qatar – Gulf Drilling International (GDI) has ordered a Pacific Class 400 jackup from PPL Shipyard in Singapore for delivery in March 2013. The contract value is around $218 million.
This is the third new build jackup the company has ordered over the past 12 months.
PPL’s rig will be based on the shipyard’s proprietary Pacific Class 400 series design. It will be capable of operating in water depths of 400 ft (122 m) and drilling to depths of 35,000 ft (10,668 m), with a 75-ft (23-m) cantilever outreach.
It is being customized for the intended project, with accommodation for 150 personnel. PPL claims it will be the most technologically advanced drilling rig operating off Qatar.
GDI is committing $875 million to an expansion plan that also involves adding two jackup accommodation barges to its fleet over the next three years.
By 2014, the company aims to have eight offshore rigs in service, and expects to corner more than 50% of the Qatar offshore market.
4/5/2012
