44 jack-up rigs relocated in race against monsoon season

June 25, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

ABL, part of Oslo-listed global consultancy Aqualis, has landed a hand to India’s government-owned energy giant Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) in the preparation for the monsoon season by helping reposition the offshore rig fleet deployed in the Asian country’s waters.

Rig move illustration; Source: ABL, part of Aqualis

ABL has supported India’s ONGC in completing 44 jack-up rig moves ahead of the monsoon season, executed between March 15 and May 31, 2026, with a combined total distance exceeding 5,500 nautical miles. The firm emphasizes that all rigs were relocated to their designated locations ahead of the onset of seasonal adverse weather conditions.

Captain Stephen Craig, ABL’s Group Director for Rig Operations, commented: “This period has set new benchmarks in terms of the number of rig moves executed, total distance covered, and overall operational delivery across both the India and Middle East regions.

“This success reflects the dedication of our offshore teams, including our tow masters and marine warranty surveyors, supported by our geotechnical and structural engineers, onshore operations teams across multiple countries, and all supporting personnel. This sustained level of activity highlights ABL’s scale, operational capability, and strong regional presence.”

In addition, the company has supported 75 rig moves within the ONGC fields on the west coast of India from September 2025 to May 2026 by acting as tow master and marine warranty surveyor throughout the campaign period.

ABL was appointed by ONGC’s underwriters and their consultants to provide marine warranty services across the fleet of jack-ups and mobile offshore production units operating within Indian waters.

The firm’s Middle East operations have maintained a high level of activity, supporting more than 750 rig move operations across Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt during the past 12 months.