Keppel FELS and Seafox partner on study of jack-up rig with P&A features
Keppel FELS and Seafox Group's Workfox have entered into a services agreement to work on an engineering study of a purpose-built accommodation jack-up rig with well intervention and plug and abandonment (P&A) features.
Keppel FELS and Seafox Group's Workfox have entered into a services agreement to work on an engineering study of a purpose-built accommodation jack-up rig with well intervention and plug and abandonment (P&A) features.
The new Seafox 8 unit will be based on Keppel's KFELS J class design and will be capable of working in the harsh environment of the Norwegian North Sea.
Seafox 8 will be equipped with a spacious deck and will offer P&A services, well intervention services and accommodation and crane support services, and accommodate 282 persons.
The unit is specifically designed to support rigless activities for P&A and well services, and is expected to be 25% to30% more economical, in terms of day rates.
"The jack-up we are conceiving, Seafox 8, offers the ideal solution as it can work all year round, including during the North Sea's winter period."
It is intended to bridge the gaps for affordable jack-ups in the existing P&A market, but the Seafox 8 can also be configured for other offshore support services.
Seafox CEO Keesjan Cordia said: "We believe the jack-up we are conceiving, Seafox 8, offers the ideal solution as it can work all year round, including during the North Sea's winter period, and undertake multiple services at a time."
"It is a real workhorse and unlike drilling rigs which are often used to do P&A currently, Seafox 8 has the crane capacity to assist with maintenance and well services activities. It has NORSOK-specified accommodation for crew and client personnel, and a lower operating cost than existing equipment with a single role purpose."
"We are glad to continue this winning partnership we have with Keppel in coming up with innovative products. Seafox 5, a multi-purpose self-elevating platform (MPSEP), which they built for us previously, has been performing extremely well and I am confident that Seafox 8 will be just as successful."
Keppel and Seafox are currently in discussions to form a joint venture and order Seafox 8 upon completion of the study, which is expected in the second half of the year.