KCA DEUTAG, the international drilling contractor, has been awarded a US$30m contract by Global Tender Barges Pte Ltd (owner of the Alligator tender assist rig) to support the drilling contract from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, for the operation and management of the Alligator tender assist rig.

This four-year contract, with a one-year extension, is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2009, following the refurbishment of the rig on completion of its contract with Chevron in Angola at the end of 2008.

Holger Temmen, Chief Executive of KCA DEUTAG, said, "This contract means that all seven of the tender assist rigs we manage have now been awarded long-term contracts in Asia and West Africa.

"We see the management of mobile offshore drilling units, such as tender assist rigs, as a significant growth opportunity for the company, and we will continue to develop this element of our business portfolio, along with our land drilling, offshore platform drilling and engineering services."

Tags: KCA DEUTAG Drilling Ltd.