Gulf of Mexico operator asks Noble drillship for an encore

Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation has added more work to the backlog of one of its seventh-generation drillships in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Following the award of a six-month contract in 2023 for the Noble Valiant drillship, LLOG Deepwater Development Company and LLOG Exploration Offshore LLC have exercised an option to extend the rig’s drilling assignment in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Blake Denton, SVP of Marketing & Contracts, commented: “This extension to the upcoming contract for the Valiant reflects our commitment and dedication to the success of our client’s operations. We are excited about this expanded duration, and we look forward to further enhancing our relationship with LLOG.”

The six-month contract extension, which is slated to begin in direct continuation of the upcoming contract – starting in late January 2024 and carrying the rig into early 2025 – can include managed pressure drilling (MPD) services as needed. While the operating day rate is $470,000, this excludes mobilization rates and a potential fee for any use of (MPD).  

The 2013-built Noble Valiant is a high-specification drillship of Samsung 96K design, which can accommodate 230 people. With a maximum drilling depth of 40,000 ft, it can operate in water depths of 12,000 ft.

The drillship was previously working for and undisclosed operator and Kosmos Energy in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico under a day rate of $450,000. This contract was moved from the Noble Faye Kozack rig. Prior to this, the drillship was on an assignment in Suriname with TotalEnergies from March 2021 until May 2023.

After reviewing the available day rate information within Noble’s most recent fleet status report, Offshore Energy concluded that the Noble Valiant drillship was the company’s highest-paid rig in 2H 2023.

This extension comes shortly after Noble and Petronas ironed out the details for a rig swap offshore Suriname. The offshore drilling player also recently got its hands on more work for one of its semi-submersible rigs offshore Colombia, South America.