Borr Drilling, Valaris and COSL have all confirmed new offshore rig contract awards during week 35 2021, while Eni has made its first discovery offshore Ivory Coast using ultra-deepwater drillship Saipem 10000
Esgian’s Hans Jacob Bassoe highlighted the contracts in the latest Bassoe Rig Analytics weekly rig round-up. Borr Drilling has secured two new offshore jack-up deals not previously reported for campaigns in West Africa. Jack-up rig Natt has been awarded a letter of award (LOA) from an undisclosed operator covering one year of firm operations offshore West Africa with options to extend for a further year. Work will begin in November and run until October 2022.
Additionally, jack-up Frigg has been awarded a letter of intent also from an undisclosed West African operator with a similar duration and options as those for Natt. Work under this campaign is due to begin in January 2022 and run until December 2022.
Market sources indicate Sacanb has asked for a 60-day extension for the delivery of cylindrical semi-submersible Sevan Developer due to Covid-19-related logistical problems. The company is reported to have difficulties bringing workers into China to mobilise the rig due to a 30-day quarantine rule in the country. The extension request is currently being evaluated by Petrobras’ legal team.
Carnarvon Petroleum has now signed a firm deal for the use of jack-up Valaris JU-107 to drill its Buffalo-10 well offshore Timor-Leste. Work will commence on completion of the rigs current work scope with Jadestone Energy, which Carnarvon said is expected to be completed in 8 to 10 weeks’ time. The final well timing will be subject to securing the remaining drilling support services and equipment, and joint venture and regulatory approvals, all of which are well progressed.
Borr Drilling has secured an LOA for its premium jack-up Mist from an undisclosed operator in southeast Asia. The programme is expected to commence in November 2021 with a duration of seven months plus options. The net start-up cash cost for the rig, which has been idle since finishing its last contract with Roc Oil in April, is expected to be US$1.75M. The LOA is expected to be converted into a contract shortly.
Empyrean Energy has awarded an integrated drilling contract for the drilling of the Jade prospect exploration well on Block 29/11, offshore China to COSL. The targeted well spud date is set for 15 December 2021. Empyrean is the operator of the block with 100% working interest during the exploration phase. If a commercial discovery is made, then its partner CNOOC may assume a 51% participating interest in the development and production phase.
Drilling activities and discoveries
Constellation drill ship Brava Star has commenced drilling the first exploration well at the Aram Block in the Santos Basin, offshore Brazil. The block is operated by Petrobras with an 80% ownership interest, with partner CNODC which holds 20% ownership interest.
Ultra-deepwater drill ship Saipem 10000 discovered oil offshore Ivory Coast while drilling for Eni in block CI-101. The discovery was made at the Baleine prospect, which was drilled 60 km off the coast of Ivory Coast and the well reached a total depth of 3,445 m in 30 days. The potential of the discovery is estimated at between 1.5 and 2.0Bn bbls of oil in place and between 1.8Tn and 2.4Tn cubic feet of associated gas. The Baleine discovery is the first exploration well drilled by Eni in the country. The block is operated by Eni (90%) with Petroci Holding (10%).
Aker BP has completed drilling of appraisal 25/2-22 S on the Liataarnet oil discovery (discovery 25/2-21) in PL 442 in the Norwegian North Sea. The appraisal well was drilled by Odfjell Drlling’s harsh environment semi-submersible Deepsea Nordkapp, which will now move to the Alvheim area to drill a development well in PL 150 for Aker BP.
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