Keppel Corp foray into next generation state-of-the-art drill ship

Keppel to build new differentiated drillship to its proprietary design The CAN DO drillship will be the front runner in exploration, development and completion operations.


Singapore, 11 December 2013 – Following positive feedback and strong enquiries from the market, Keppel FELS Ltd (Keppel FELS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), is proceeding with the building of its new CAN DO drillship. When completed in 2016, the drillship is expected to be a state-of-the-art deepwater exploration, development and completion drilling vessel.
Mr Chow Yew Yuen, Chief Operating Officer and CEO-Designate, Keppel O&M, commented, “As with all our market established proprietary designs, our new CAN DO drillship design was developed in close consultation with customers, major oil companies and vendors. The newly developed design is capable of handling next generation 20K psi blowout preventers.


“While most modern drillships currently in operation were designed and built for exploration drilling, industry feedback has revealed the need for vessels capable of performing development and completion drilling in addition to exploration drilling. Since the launch of our design earlier this year, we have received very encouraging response from the market, and we have decided to start constructing the first drillship to this design. We believe the drillship meets the high functionality, safety and cost-effective requirements of the industry.”