Petrobras inks deals worth US$2.9Bn for six drillships

With ambitious plans to increase oil and gas production over the next five years, Petrobras has recently signed charter and service agreements for six new high-spec drillships worth R$18.0Bn (US$2.9Bn), which will be essential for the Brazilian oil major’s drilling and well completion campaign. Contracts, which have a minimum commitment of 30% local content, were signed with drilling contractors Constellation, Etesco, Foresea, Seadrill and Ventura (see Table below). As OSJ previously reported, Seadrill’s seventh-generation drillships West Tellus and West Jupiter were secured under long-term agreements.

Among the six new rigs, three will be destined for the Sépia and Atapu fields, with contracts ranging from two years and six months to three years, starting in 2026. The other three rigs will be allocated to different Petrobras projects, with contracts for three years, also from 2026.

Petrobras director of engineering, technology and innovation, Renata Baruzzi, said the drillships are “fundamental resources for expanding our production capacity through drilling new wells and implementing new projects. In 2024, we hired 12 rigs, a significant milestone that strengthens our position and guarantees a promising future for the company and the country.”

As of 1 December, there were 37 offshore drilling units actively drilling in Brazil, according to Westwood Global Energy. Nine others were in the country or destined for Brazil, including one cold stacked, three warm stacked, one en route, one undergoing shipyard inspection, two undergoing modification, one being built, one waiting on location, and one workover unit.

 Recent contracts signed by Petrobras for sixth and seventh-generation drillships

Drilling contractor

Drillship

Contract amt

Specification

Constellation

Amaralina Star

US$528M

3,048-m water depth

Etesco

Etesco Takatsugu J

US$446M

3,048-m water depth

Foresea

Norbe IX

US$417M

3,048-m water depth

Seadrill

West Jupiter

US$493M

3,658-m water depth

Seadrill

West Tellus

US$498M

3,658-m water depth

Ventura Offshore

NS Carolina

US$363M

3,048-m ft water depth

Source: Various company filings and reports; contract amounts exclude mobilisation payments and options