$260 million drilling job with Eni takes Saipem’s drillship back to Côte d’Ivoire

July 22, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Italy’s engineering, drilling, and construction services giant Saipem has picked up a multimillion-dollar assignment in African waters for one of its drillships, enabling the rig to once again work in Côte d’Ivoire for Eni Côte d’Ivoire, a subsidiary of the Italian energy giant Eni.

A drillship at sea — Santorini drillship; Source: Saipem

Saipem has secured a new offshore drilling contract valued at approximately $260 million with Eni for its Santorini drillship, which will be deployed off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire. This deal commits the rig to a long-term development drilling campaign, with operations scheduled to begin in early 2027. The assignment for Eni’s project includes a firm commitment for an extended drilling program.

Saipem explains that there is a possibility of the drillship’s potential deployment in neighbouring countries as well as additional optional periods, further enhancing the long-term visibility and continuity of the rig’s future utilization. Santorini is a seventh-generation drillship capable of operating at water depths up to 12,000 feet (over 3,500 meters).

“This new award confirms Saipem’s competitive positioning in offshore drilling, as well as its ability to efficiently deploy its high-specification assets in support of clients’ exploration, appraisal and development activities,” emphasized the Italian giant.

The Santorini drillship has a history of working for Eni. The rig was used for the drilling of the Italian energy heavyweight’s Calao South discovery offshore Côte d’Ivoire to a total of around 5,000 meters in a 2,200-meter water depth earlier this year.

This rig deal comes shortly after Saipem disclosed the sale of its shareholding in Saudi Arabian Saipem (SAS) to ADES, ending its shallow water drilling chapter in Saudi Arabia, as it continues its shift to deepwater plays.

The Italian player, through its subsidiary in a joint venture with PT Tripatra Engineers and Constructors, also recently won a contract for the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) for Eni’s Kutei North Hub field development project in Indonesia.