Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has secured a contract from Aramco Overseas Company B.V., a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, the world's largest producer and exporter of crude oil and natural gas liquids, to build a customised KFELS Super B Class jackup rig.

The contract is subject to a notice from the owner to proceed with construction by May 2010.

Upon rig delivery, which is slated in the second half of 2012, the unit will be deployed by Saudi Aramco in the Middle East.

Mr Wong Kok Seng, Executive Director of Keppel FELS, said, 'We are pleased to usher in 2010 with a newbuild project for Saudi Aramco. This is an encouraging development, signalling that confidence is gradually returning to the industry.

'In the current market, owners and operators are on the look-out for even more innovative and cost-effective solutions that can be delivered as promised.

'With a record-setting number of 13 newly built rigs delivered in 2009, Keppel FELS has proved its ability to meet these requirements and more. Backed by strong in-house engineering expertise, these rigs were ready to start work as soon as they arrived on location.

'The fact that Saudi Aramco has chosen Keppel to build their very first purpose-built, next-generation mobile offshore drilling rig based on our proprietary design strongly endorses our reputation for excellence.'

To date, 31 KFELS B Class rigs have already been delivered with another two under construction.

Tags: Keppel AmFELS Inc.