By The Associated Press Brian Smith, Peninsula Clarion AP

4:59 p.m. AKST, December 15, 2012
KENAI, Alaska—

Buccaneer Energy has severed ties with the company it hired to operate the $100 million jack-up rig Endeavour.
   
Jay Morakis, a spokesman, told the Peninsula Clarion (http://is.gd/d1NUK8) that Archer Drilling Company was fired for performance reasons and for failing to pay local subcontractors.
   
The 400-foot-tall jack-up rig, one of the largest such rigs in the world, arrived from Singapore in August. The plan was for the rig to stay a week or two before heading north to drill near Tyonek.
   
A series of problems has plagued the rig since then. Buccaneer took action after watching it sit in Homer delayed for months, miss a drilling window and rack up a large bill in harbor fees.
   
Morakis says Spartan Offshore Drilling has signed a letter of intent to assume operations of the Endeavour.