Dolphin Drilling’s 35-year-old rig returning to its North Sea gig

Scotland-headquartered offshore drilling contractor Dolphin Drilling has confirmed the return of a 1990-built semi-submersible rig, which it acquired from Transocean, to the North Sea, where it will resume its assignment in UK waters.

The Paul B. Loyd Jr. (PBLJ) rig, which joined Dolphin’s fleet in 2024 after leaving Transocean’s rig fleet, has completed its five-year special periodic survey (SPS) in Ølen, Norway.

The rig owner claims that the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) will now go back to the UK North Sea to continue operations with Harbour Energy.

Previously, the rig finished the Brodgar well, delivered two appraisal wells, and a development well before being moored up at the Caledonia field to undertake permanent plug and abandonment (P&A) operations.

While the North Sea operator has booked the rig through to February 2028, the company also has another five one-year extension options at its disposal to prolong the semi-submersible’s stay.

With an enhanced Aker H-4.2 design, the mid-water harsh-environment rig, which is capable of operating at a maximum water depth of 600 meters, entered service in 1990 after being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea.

Recently, Dolphin Drilling obtained a letter of intent for another rig, which could bring approximately $58 million for an assignment that would begin in the second half of 2026.

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