Transocean rig secured for offshore Australia Bedout drilling campaign
Santos has hired the Transocean Equinox semisubmersible rig for a multi-well exploration drilling campaign offshore Western Australia.
Partner Carnarvon Energy reported that this would include wells on some of the larger prospects identified in the Bedout Sub-basin exploration permits.
The aim will be to better delineate the scale of the Bedout Sub-basin’s resource potential.
The candidates for drilling include Ara, Yuma, Goats Eye and Hutton, all defined on the Bedout MegaMerge 3D seismic survey. Santos had been scouting for a suitable rig since early 2025.
At present, Transocean Equinox is continuing a multi-well drilling program for multiple consortia offshore Victoria, which should conclude by early 2027.
The Bedout campaign should then get underway from April onward, with one firm well in Carnarvon’s exploration permits and one contingent well.
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About the Author
Jeremy Beckman
Editor, Europe
Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.