Ensco, a leading energy drilling contractor and owner of the Ensco 69 rig, "paralyzed [the rig's] operations and abandoned its contractual obligations," PdVSA said in a statement.

(In "UPDATE: Venezuela Takes Control Of Idle Ensco Oil Rig," published at 6:27 p.m. EST, and "Venezuela Takes Control Of Idle Ensco Oil Rig - PdVSA," published at 5:50 p.m. EST, the number of the rig was incorrect.)

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