Saipem has won three new drilling contracts in the Middle East, and two in West Africa, with a total value of $800 million.
The contracts cover jack-ups in the Middle East and deepwater drillships in Cote d’Ivoire and Angola.
Eni awarded Saipem both contracts in West Africa. Saipem expects to use its Drillship Saipem 12000 in Cote d’Ivoire starting in the fourth quarter of this year. The arrangement extends the rig’s activities in the area for another six months, it said.
Saipem won work on Eni’s Baleine project in September. The contractor committed to beginning work on the field this quarter, with Eni aiming to reach first oil in the first half of 2023.
Saipem won work to provide subsea equipment and a gas pipeline to onshore. It also won the contract for the construction and commissioning of the Firenze FPSO.
After working in Cote d’Ivoire at the Baleine project, the Saipem 12000 will go on to Angola, where it will carry out work for Azule Energy, the new joint venture of BP and Eni. It will drill, complete and test development and exploration wells on Block 15/06.
Saipem said its drillship would carry out 12 wells on the block, which should take around 26 months. There is a possible extension for an optional term, it said. The drillship will be working off Angola in 2023, Saipem said.
Middle East
In the Middle East, meanwhile, Saipem will provide the Perro Negro 12 and Perro Negro 13. Saipem said these high-specification jack-ups were chartered by third parties for drilling and workovers.
The contract will run for five years, with two optional years for the first unit and three with another one optional year for the second.
The jack-up contracts should start in the third and fourth quarter of 2023.
Saipem added the new Perro Negro 11 to its fleet in July. This jack-up also went to the Middle East. The company has not responded to a request for more information on the Perro Negro 12 and Perro Negro 13.
A third contract in the Middle East applies to the Sea Lion 7, another high-spec jack-up. This rig won a five-year extension. Saipem did not disclose where the Sea Lion 7 would operate, but it is currently under contract in Saudi Arabia.
Saipem has won new contracts in offshore drilling this year worth 1.6 billion euros ($1.7bn).