This company produces modular platforms which don't require years of advance planning. They do have other clients and manufacturing facilities around the globe. The question was how long did it take Brutus to produce oil/gas from the planning stage. In the article you posted, it states that this was the first major platform produced by Shell's deepwater services group. The services group was established in 1999. The platform was completed 7 months ahead of schedule and 18% under budget and it was producing in July of 2001. This issue was in regard to building rigs or platforms, not leases or exploration.
Check my link above and you will see that it only took 11 months to fabricate this platform.