04 September 2013, News Wires – Ensco has taken delivery of the DS-7 ultra-deepwater drillship which is contracted to Total for drilling off Angola.
The newbuild unit will be sent from the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea to Angola to start the three-year contract in the fourth quarter, the New York-listed rig owner said.
The French oil major has hired the DS-7 at an initial day rate in the mid-$610,000s, Ensco said.
Ensco chief executive Dan Rabun said the charter showed the continuing expansion of deep-water in west Africa, where the contractor already has three rigs.
The DS-7 is the fifth of the company’s ultra-deepwater drillship series which has to date seen eight units ordered.
The GF12000 design drillships are rated for drilling in 10,000 feet water depth but with modification can operate in 12,000 feet of water.
In addition to DP3 dynamic positioning, the rigs are equipped with six-ram 15,000 psi BOPs, two million pound hook load, 6000-barrel active fluid systems and accommodation for up to 200 workers.
– Upstream