BROWNSVILLE – The Rio Grande Valley is playing an important role in the offshore drilling industry. Jack-up rigs are built in the Valley.

A jack-up rig is an offshore drilling rig with telescopic legs that extends to the sea floor and raises the drilling platform out of the water.

Keppel AmFELS, which is located at the Port of Brownsville, recently finished its fifth rig for Central Panuco. The Mexican company traditionally names their rigs after different rivers in Mexico.

Simon Lee, the president of Keppel AmFELS, said, “Today, we name this magnificent jack-up rig for Central Panuco with the name of Uxpanapa."

"It flows through the Selva Zoque and the Municipo of Uxpanapa in the state of Veracruz," said Lee.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS took a tour of the five-level rig. There are plenty of stairs but no elevators.

It has three giant cranes on board and will be home for 126 people. It includes a mess hall, showers, medical quarters and a private helicopter pad.

In the driller's cabin, there's the command chair. Every control is at your fingertips, and there’s a full view of the drilling platform.

PEMEX, the Mexican national oil company, will man the rig and will be working offshore in Mexico. Company officials were present to accept the delivery.

In total Keppel AmFELS has delivered 16 projects to operators in Mexico and another four are currently on order.

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