Offshore drilling rig roundup: Aker BP extends Saipem contract, Valaris trims fleet, Noble/Kongsberg enter partnership

Aker BP extends Saipem rig contract

Aker BP has taken up an option to extend its contract with Saipem’s semisub Scarabeo 8 offshore Norway.

The rig has been working continuously for the Norwegian operator since March 22. It will now continue operations for Aker BP until the end of 2027.

Valaris sells three semisubs for recycling

In other drilling news, Valaris has reported in its latest results that it sold three semisubs, VALARIS DPS-3, DPS-5 and DPS-6, for recycling, and warm-stacked the VALARIS DS-12 after the drillship completed a contract.

Despite these developments, the company has secured new orders that have lifted its order backlog to about $4.7 billion.

President and CEO Anton Dibowitz said, “As expected, the pipeline of floater opportunities we have discussed in recent quarters are converting into contracts, and we anticipate additional awards across the industry in the coming months.”

Kongsberg, Noble form long-term development partnership

The first pilot project will start later this year on the drillship Noble Sam Croft. Kongsberg Maritime’s marine technologies could be extended across Noble’s fleet of 21 floaters.

OMV starts production drilling in the Black Sea

As for ongoing development drilling operations involving semisubmersibles, OMV reported in a second-quarter results update that the semisub Transocean Barents had started production drilling at the Pelican South gas field in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea, part of OMV Petrom’s Neptun Deep project.

Four wells will be drilled on Pelican South and six more on the Domino Field, with production due to start in 2027.

Semisub begins P&A for Beach Energy offshore Australia

In the Otway Basin offshore Victoria, Australia, the semisub Transocean Equinox began P&A for Beach Energy of the Geographe 1 well in mid-year. The rig will P&A the Thylacine 1 well and drill the Hercules 1 exploration well for Beach in the Otway Basin, and P&A the White Ibis 1 well in the Bass Basin.

Beach describes Hercules 1 as a material, moderate to high-risk gas exploration prospect targeting the Waarre C reservoir.

The operator has lined up a second phase of activity for the rig starting in the second half of next year, including drilling and completing the La Bella 2 development well and the Artisan discovery; a well intervention at Thylacine; and abandoning the Trefoil 1 and Yolla 1 wells in the Bass Basin.

Read more rig news from this week:

BW Energy, Rhino confirm two more exploration wells offshore Namibia

BW Energy and partner NAMCOR E&P have contracted the Deepsea Mira semisub to drill the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu license (PPL003) offshore Namibia in the Orange Basin, according to a July 28 BW Energy press release.

Drilling should begin later this year. The assignment forms part of a rig-sharing arrangement with Rhino Resources.

Shelf Drilling finds work for two jackups

Shelf Drilling (North Sea) has secured a one firm-well contract for the Shelf Drilling Fortress jackup in UK waters.

Offshore Egypt, parent company Shelf Drilling has agreed to a one-year extension with the client for the Rig 141 jackup in the Gulf of Suez for about $23 million.