Esgian experiences varied drilling contractors disclosing particulars of discussions with Saudi Aramco relating to jackup contract suspensions in its Week 14 Rig Analytics Market Roundup. These contractors embody Shelf Drilling, ADES, Borr Drilling, Arabian Drilling, COSL, and ARO Drilling.
Meanwhile, Transocean, Noble, and COSL rigs have firmed up new work within the US Gulf of Mexico, Suriname, and the North Sea, respectively.
Report overview:
Contracts
Shelf Drilling has obtained a discover of suspension of operations on 4 jackup rigs from a buyer within the Middle East. The firm is in energetic discussions with the client to find out which rigs shall be suspended and the precise timing of the suspensions. Shelf Drilling understands that, in the course of the suspension interval, it can have the best to actively market the rigs to different prospects and alternatives and to terminate the relevant contracts.
Transocean has secured a 365-day contract extension for 12,000-ft drillship Deepwater Asgard with an unbiased operator within the US GOM.
Petronas has exercised an possibility for Noble 12,000-ft drillship Noble Voyager to drill an extra nicely on Block 52 offshore Suriname at a dayrate of $470,000.
Offshore drilling agency ADES stated Thursday it had mutually agreed with its shopper Saudi Aramco to briefly droop operations of 5 jackup rigs working in Saudi Arabia. ADES, which has 33 jackups on contract within the Kingdom, stated the suspensions had been for a interval of as much as 12 months, with out offering particulars on which rigs precisely had been being suspended.
Borr Drilling has obtained a discover of short-term suspension of operations for its 400-ft jackup Arabia I, working for Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia. Borr Drilling stated on Thursday that the short-term suspension can be for a interval of as much as 12 months.
Drilling contractor Arabian Drilling is in discussions with Saudi Aramco for contract suspensions of as much as 12 months for 3 of its jackups.
China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL) acknowledged that it had obtained a discover from a “customer in the Middle East” to droop the operation of 4 jackups. This shopper is known to be Saudi Aramco, which is in discussions for contract suspensions with a lot of drilling contractors in Saudi Arabia.
ARO Drilling has obtained a discover of suspension from Saudi Aramco of the contract for 350-ft jackup Valaris 143. The suspension interval is for as much as 12 months.
Since Saudi Aramco introduced in late January 2024 that it had been directed by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy to take care of its most sustainable capability at 12 million b/d quite than proceed in the direction of a earlier aim of 13 million b/d, the offshore drilling market has awaited the impact this is able to have on the big variety of jackups underneath contract. This week, Aramco has issued notices to a number of drilling contractors of contract suspensions. According to market sources, 23 jackups are to have their contracts with Aramco suspended within the coming months.
COSL Drilling has confirmed a brand new contract award for its 2,460-ft semisubmersible, COSLPioneer, with Vår Energi in Norway.
Drilling Activity and Discoveries
Oil and gasoline firm EnQuest plans to drill three infill wells and ship three nicely workovers, with six wells to be plugged and deserted at its PM8/Seligi discipline offshore Malaysia.
Deepwater US GOM-focused operator LLOG Exploration Company plans to drill and full a number of wells throughout the Buckskin, Leon and Castile fields within the US GOM and drill three further prospects within the space of its Who Dat improvement in 2024.
Deltic Energy has obtained the required regulatory and companion consents for the farm-out of a 25% curiosity within the Shell-operated Licence P2437 within the UK North Sea, containing the Selene Prospect, to Dana Petroleum.
The Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) has granted Wintershall Dea Norge a drilling allow for an exploration nicely within the North Sea offshore Norway.
Following operator LLOG’s announcement of recent wells to be drilled on the Who Dat discipline within the US GOM, companion Karoon Energy has confirmed that the Who Dat East appraisal/exploration nicely shall be drilled with drillship Noble Valiant, whereas the Who Dat South exploration nicely shall be drilled with drillship West Neptune.
Demand
Prima Energi has obtained approval from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for a revised plan of improvement (POD) for the Ande-Ande Lumut (AAL) Oil Field, positioned in shallow waters on the Northwest Natuna PSC within the West Natuna Sea.
Reliance has up to date a contract begin window and extension choices underneath its drillship tender in India. The new contract begin window is between 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026.
Mobilisation/Rig Moves
The 800-ft tender help drilling rig Sapura Berani has left EPIC Group’s West Wharf in Kemaman Port in Terengganu, the place it had been since December 2023.
Vantage Drilling 12,000-ft drillship Platinum Explorer has begun its mobilisation from Indian waters to Singapore, then onto Labuan, Malaysia, the place the rig will endure its five-year particular periodic survey, upkeep and be upgraded with a six-ram BOP.
Noble Corporation’s 400-ft jackup Noble Regina Allen has left the North Sea area and is en path to Argentina forward of a brand new contract with CompleteEnergies.
The Ocean Oilfield-owned 150-ft jackup B152 will carry out its particular periodic survey (SPS) on the KEZAD shipyard in Abu Dhabi. The jackup is anticipated to remain in KEZAD shipyard for a number of weeks earlier than returning to proceed its contract with ADNOC.
Ocean Oilfield’s 280-ft jackup Aras Driller has left the shipyard and is en path to its first location to start out drilling operations for Pakistan International Oil Limited. Aras Driller carried out its upkeep, contract preparation and acceptance take a look at for this marketing campaign within the KEZAD shipyard in Abu Dhabi.
The 2012-built 10,000-ft semisubmersible La Muralla IV has been renamed Independencia 2 and moved from Curacao to Aruba after underdoing a yard keep for reactivation.
ADES’ 250-ft jackup Admarine 261 accomplished its OOS and left the yard in Bahrain on Thursday. The rig is now on the transfer within the Persian Gulf, apparently being towed by the Lanpan 33 vessel, en path to Saudi waters, the place it can begin its contract with Saudi Aramco.
