Keppel AmFELS LLC, a wholly owned US subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), has delivered the jackup rig, Coatzacoalcos, to Mexico’s Central Panuco S.A. De C.V., a subsidiary of Mexico's Perforadora Central S.V. De C.V. (Perforadora Central) on time, within budget and with zero loss time incidents. 

The rig was christened today at Keppel AmFELS’ yard in Brownsville, Texas by Lady Sponsor, Monica Funtanet de Alvarez-Morphy, the wife of Javier Alvarez Morphy Camou Sr, Director of Perforadora Central. 

Coatzacoalcos is the fourth jackup rig built by Keppel AmFELS for Perforadora Central and the third based on the LeTourneau Super 116E design. The yard is currently building a fifth jackup to Keppel’s proprietary KFELS B Class design for Perforadora Central. 

At the ceremony, Mr Simon Lee, President of Keppel AmFELS, said, “The successful delivery of this fourth rig to Perforadora Central and the excellent progress on the fifth rig under construction is a testament to the strong capabilities of the yard as well as the partnership between our two companies. We are glad to be able to support Perforadora Central as they grow their fleet of rigs to become the premier drilling operator in Mexico. 

“Keppel AmFELS is well-positioned in the Gulf of Mexico to support our customers in the region. This includes undertaking the wide variety of repair and conversion projects coming out of the region.” 

Coatzacoalcos will be chartered by PEMEX, the Mexican national oil company, for work in offshore Mexico. Keppel AmFELS’ close connection to PEMEX includes having built two 220 Men accommodation modules for Pemex in 2006 as well as repairing and servicing a total of 18 rigs that have been chartered by PEMEX from other companies over the years. 

Patricio Alvarez Morphy Orvañanos, Senior Vice President Perforadora Central added, “We are pleased to receive another rig from Keppel AmFELS on time, on budget and to the highest standards. Coatzacoalcos will further extend our footprint in the Gulf of Mexico and we are confident it will be just as successful as the three rigs Keppel AmFELS has built for us. They have proven to be an outstanding partner and our choice yard in building a fleet of high quality and cost-efficient rigs that are able to exceed the expectations of our customers. The excellent teamwork we have built up is further demonstrated on the smooth progress of Uxpanapa, our latest newbuild Jackup of the KFELS B Class design.” 

Keppel AmFELS previously completed Tonala, an ultra-premium KFELS B Class jackup for Perforadora Central in 2004, followed by Tuxpan in 2010 and Papaloapan in 2013, both LeTourneau S116E rigs. The fifth jackup rig it is currently constructing for Perforadora Central is scheduled for delivery in 4Q 2015.