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.

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.

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."

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"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.