Shell hires ADES rig for drilling ops offshore Brunei

November 27, 2025, by Melisa Cavcic

ADES International Holding, a subsidiary of ADES Holding Company, which is part of Saudi Arabia-headquartered ADES Group, has landed a new offshore drilling assignment for one of its jack-up rigs off the coast of Brunei in Southeast Asia with Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), a joint venture company between the Brunei government and the UK-headquartered Shell.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Shelf Drilling, ADES has secured a two-year contract for the Compact Driller standard jack-up rig with Brunei Shell Petroleum, shortly after wrapping up its merger with the UAE-based rig owner.

This jack-up will be deployed to perform plug and abandonment (P&A) operations offshore Brunei, thanks to this contract with an estimated value of approximately SAR 236 million ($63 million).

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Dr. Mohamed Farouk, CEO of ADES Holding, highlighted: “We are delighted to announce our first contract award following the successful acquisition of Shelf Drilling, a milestone that reinforces our strategic vision and solidifies our presence in Southeast Asia, a region of immense opportunity and growth.

“This award reflects Shelf Drilling’s proven track record of safety and operational excellence, particularly its unique experience delivering P&A services in the region. This track record underscores the rationale behind our acquisition.”

The rig is expected to begin operations in Brunei during the fourth quarter of 2026 and will undergo contract preparation activities in Singapore ahead of the commencement. The rig is currently on contract in India until May 2026.

“We are pleased to begin our partnership with BSP and remain committed to delivering safe and efficient operations in support of their activities in Brunei,” added Dr. Farouk.

“It is a testament to the dedication of the combined teams and the strength of our integrated platform. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to deliver exceptional results for our clients and partners.”