A.P. Moller - Maersk has acquired two advanced jack-up drilling rigs from Petrojack ASA.
Construction of the units is currently ongoing at Jurong Shipyard in Singapore. The first rig will be delivered in March 2007 and the second in June 2008.

The jack-up rigs will be capable of operating in water depths up to 375 feet in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Latin America, West Africa as well as in the harsh environment of the central and southern parts of the North Sea.

The new rigs are of Baker Pacific Class 375 design and distance themselves from conventional jack-ups in several areas, not least on the drill floor where the highly mechanised equipment leads to increased safety of the crew. The sophisticated drilling equipment will also make the rigs well qualified for drilling deep and difficult wells, including high temperature/high pressure wells.

A total of 120 people can be accommodated on board.

“We are seeing a growing demand within the high-end jack-up market. The capacities of these rigs make them well-suited for the most attractive and demanding exploration and development drilling jobs," says Claus Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Contractors.

Contact: Paul Carsten Pedersen, CCO, Maersk Contractors, phone: +45 3363 3333.

Maersk Contractors is part of the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group and is a leading drilling contractor and supplier of floating production solutions. The fleet counts 29 drilling rigs and four FPSOs including six high efficiency jack-up rigs and three deepwater development semi-submersibles under construction. Maersk Contractors, together with Egyptian Drilling Company, employs an international staff of altogether 6,900 well-trained people.