Houston-based offshore drill-rig contractor Rowan Companies, Inc. has announced that its manufacturing business LeTourneau Technologies has signed orders worth $185 million with a Brazilian construction consortium for rig kit, rig design and drilling equipment for two LeTourneau Super 116E jack-ups.

"In this difficult market environment we are pleased to have been selected by the Brazilian consortium to provide the primary components for these new jack-up rigs," LTI chief exec Dan Eckermann was quoted as saying.

The two rigs are to be built at Petrobras' Maragojipe, Bahia facility by the Consorcio Rio Paraguacu. Rig kits will mostly be delivered in 2009, while most of the drilling equipment will be provided in 2010.

The Super 116E Class is one of five LTI jack-up designs and has evolved to carry greater payload than its predecessors. The rig is designed to drill in up to 350 feet of water in moderate marine environments.

LTI built the world's first jack-up drilling rig in 1955.

Tags: Le Tourneau, Rowan Companies