Offshore drilling news roundup for the week of Jan. 27, 2025

Jan. 31, 2025
In this week's drilling news update, Offshore highlights the latest drillship and rig contracts as well as advances in drilling technology.

In this week's drilling news update, Offshore highlights the latest drillship and rig contracts secured with Tullow, TotalEnergies and Equinor, the advances in drilling technologies from Halliburton and Reelwell, and upcoming offshore development projects. 

Tullow says Ghana drilling to resume in May 2025

Tullow expects to stem declining production rates at the deepwater Jubilee field offshore Ghana this year, after increasing water injection capacity on the FPSO to 300,000 bbl/d late in 2024.

A 4D seismic survey has begun across both Jubilee and the nearby TEN fields to identify locations for future wells, to optimize the 2025-26 development drilling program, and to improve understanding of pressure and fluid movement in the reservoirs.

In May the Noble Venturer is due to start drilling one producer and one injector on Jubilee, both of which should go online during the third quarter. Following a break for maintenance, the drillship will resume drilling for Tullow at the start drilling of 2026.

At TEN, the focus going forward will be on reducing costs to improve the development economics and maturing infill potential, supported by the 4D data.


Stena Drilling announces drillship contract with TotalEnergies 

TotalEnergies has reserved the Stena DrillMAX drillship for a one-exploration well/managed pressure drilling program this year offshore Suriname.

The contract, due to start in second-quarter 2025, could be extended by up to three more wells in Surinamese waters.


Equinor extends Deepsea Atlantic rig contract

Equinor has extended Odfjell Drilling’s contract for the semisub Deepsea Atlantic to operate offshore Norway until mid-2027.

The rig has been contracted to Equinor since 2009.

It will continue to operate under previously agreed terms until mid-Q3 2026, after which the incremental value of the contract will be $148 million, excluding integrated services, performance bonuses and fuel incentives.

The arrangement includes four priced one-well options and three further optional periods, each of about one year’s duration. If exercised, these could keep the rig on hire into 2030.


Reelwell inks contract with Vår Energi for powered wired drill pipe

Odfjell Technology will act as strategic partner to Reelwell, which has secured a contract with Vår Energi for the provision of its DualLink powered digital drillpipe technology.

The DualLink will be deployed offshore on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) for the first time.

The initial contract covers operations on the COSLPioneer rig for one year, with the option of four additional one-year extensions. The contract also includes an option to expand the scope to include all Vår Energi installations across the North Sea, depending on future operational requirements.

This is the first contract since the announcement of the Reelwell and Odfjell Technology partnership in 2024.

Under the agreement, Reelwell will be responsible for the overall delivery of the contract, including the provision of its DualLink technology, and it will also oversee the collection and analysis of critical drilling data.

This DualLink system is designed to integrate real-time telemetry with wellbore power, delivering enhanced operational control and ensuring uninterrupted power to downhole tools as well as improving data transmission throughout the drilling process, Odfjell says. 

Odfjell Technology will be responsible for:

  • All the necessary drillpipe components and accessories for the project;
  • Maintenance requirements, in support of Reelwell’s services and the COSLPioneer rig; and
  • Logistics handling and onsite support for the rig.

The Odfjell Technology and Reelwell collaboration agreement secures up to 10 years of exclusivity for the delivery of this service in the North Sea market.


Halliburton awarded offshore Brazil drilling contract with Petrobras 

Halliburton has secured a contract award from Petrobras for integrated drilling services across several offshore fields in Brazil.

The work scope for services include development and exploration wells over a three-year period.

Among other technologies, Halliburton will provide:

  • Its intelligent rotary steerable system (RSS), which is said to reduce well time and place wells accurately;
  • It automation and remote operations platform, which is designed to improve well construction consistency and performance;
  • Its ultradeep resistivity service to position production boreholes and map reservoirs; and
  • Its real-time service to reduce lost time through advanced hydraulic software, surface measurement automation and predictive analytics.

The contract is scheduled to begin in 2025, and is Halliburton’s largest service contract with Petrobras. 


ADES rig to drill six wells offshore Nigeria

ADES has entered a jackup drilling contract offshore Nigeria with Valiant Offshore Contractors with an estimated value of $21.8 million.

The Admarine 504 will drill and complete six wells for local operator Brittania-U, with the year-long program set to start during the second quarter.

ADES and Valiant (its in-country partner) will jointly manage rig operations; ADES will provide the rig, its senior crew and management systems to Valiant against a charter fee.

Valiant in turn will perform its drilling duties under its contract with Brittania-U.

About the Author

Jeremy Beckman | Editor, Europe

Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.