Japan’s rig owner lands new jack-up gig

Japan’s offshore drilling contractor Japan Drilling Co. (JDC) has been awarded a new deal for one of its jack-up rigs for operations offshore Thailand.

Under the drilling contract awarded by Medco Energi Thailand (Bualuang) Limited, JDC will provide the Hakuryu-11 jack-up rig for operations at the Bualuang field, offshore Thailand. This field is located in Block B8/38, in the Western Basin of the Gulf of Thailand, in water depths of 60 metres.

Previously operated by Salamander Energy, the Bualuang field has been on stream since 2008. It is currently operated by Medco Energi Thailand (Bualuang) Limited.

According to JDC, the four-well contract is expected to take approximately 60 days, however, it also can be extended with three optional wells. This deal is expected to start around the end of February 2023. No financial details have been revealed about the contract at this point.

The 2013-built Hakuryu-11 is a KFELS Super B Class three-leg self-elevating, cantilever-type mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU). This jack-up drilling rig was constructed by Keppel FELS Limited in Singapore and customized to JDC’s requirements. With a maximum drilling depth of 35,000 ft, the rig is capable of operating in water depths of 425 ft. It can accommodate 150 people.

Back in February 2022, JDC won another deal with Medco E&P Natuna through its subsidiary company, PT. Japan Drilling Indonesia, for the provision of the Hakuryu-11 jack-up rig for operations offshore Indonesia.