Borr Drilling jack-up begins offshore decommissioning work in Brazil

Borr Drilling’s jack-up rig, Arabia I, has arrived in Brazil to begin a long-term contract decommissioning wells in the shallow waters of the Guaricema field in the Sergipe Basin.

Operated by Brazil’s Etesco, the KFELS B Class jack-up will be on hire to Petrobras until Q1 2029, according to Borr Drillling’s fleet status report.

Shipbrokers Delta Offshore reported the start of operations by Arabia I, referred to as PA-38, “marks a key step in Petrobras’ decommissioning programme in Sergipe, which includes planned investments of approximately US$1.7Bn between 2025 and 2029, as part of the company’s strategic business plan.

The broker reported it provided support for the charter of two anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels to Petrobras to tow Arabia I from Enseada Shipyard where it was undergoing contract preparation work, to Aracaju. Those two AHTS vessels, Apollo Z (ex Havila Mercury) and Theseus Z (ex Havila Mars), were joined by the AHTS Oceanicasub X (ex Far Sabre), owned by Oceanica, in the rig positioning operation.

Apollo Z and Theseus Z will support Arabia I during the decommissioning project. Both 2007-built AHTSs fly the Brazilian flag, have 195 tonnes of bollard pull and are managed by Galaxia Navegacao.