Offshore drilling and development activity continued to advance across several regions, with new rig contracts, contract extensions and a major rig conversion project adding momentum to operators' development plans. 

Offshore Indonesia, West Natuna Exploration Ltd.'s (WNEL) Mako gas development remains on track for start-up in late 2027, according to parent company Conrad Energy Asia's latest operational update. The jackup Valaris 104 has been wet-towed through the Strait of Hormuz and loaded onto a heavy-lift vessel for transport to Batam, Indonesia, where it will be converted into a mobile offshore production unit (MOPU) capable of handling 172 MMcf/d of raw gas production. 

Development drilling at Mako will be performed by the Admarine 502 cantilever jackup under a 180-day firm contract. Project operator WNEL said contracts and awards now cover about 90% of the project's estimated $320-million development cost. 

Meanwhile, Eni has exercised a nine-month extension option for Borr Drilling's Bestla jackup offshore Europe, adding to the contractor's backlog. The operator also retains another fixed-price option for a similar extension. Borr expects to assume operational management of the rig in the coming quarter following completion of its bareboat charter arrangement.

Elsewhere, Borr's Odin jackup has started work for an undisclosed operator in the US Gulf, while the Idun jackup is due to begin a three-well campaign offshore Vietnam in direct continuation of its current assignment. The program is reportedly for PetroVietnam Drilling and PetroVietnam Exploration. 

In Norway, Noble Corp. has recently secured two new jackup contracts. ORLEN Upstream Norge awarded the ultra-harsh-environment Noble Intrepid a one-well exploration contract on PL1135, with work expected to begin in the third quarter of 2027 and last 40-60 days. Separately, ConocoPhillips Skandinavia awarded the ultra-harsh-environment Noble Interceptor a contract for plug and abandonment operations in the Greater Ekofisk Area. The program is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2027 and has an estimated duration of 670 days.

In West Africa, Transocean has secured a two-well contract valued at about $80 million for its Deepwater Conqueror drillship offshore Equatorial Guinea. The approximately 170-day campaign is scheduled to begin next year after the vessel mobilizes from its current location in the US Gulf.