Rig on the move: Stena drillship sailing from US Gulf to Las Palmas ahead of Egyptian gig

A 2012-built drillship, owned by Scotland-headquartered offshore drilling contractor Stena Drilling, has finished its drilling campaign in the U.S. Gulf and is on its way to Las Palmas before going to Egypt to undertake its next hydrocarbon exploration assignment.

Following the completion of operations in the U.S. Gulf, the Stena IceMAX sixth-generation dual-activity Ice-Class DP3 drillship is en route to Las Palmas.

The rig owner explains that the rig will now undergo routine maintenance and be prepared for its next campaign, which entails a four-well firm program in Egypt with an undisclosed operator.

“Covering a journey of approximately 4,298 nautical miles, the transit is expected to take 18–21 days, weather permitting,” emphasized Stena Drilling.

Stena IceMAX is scheduled to start its new job in February 2026. The estimated duration of this campaign is approximately 190 days.

However, the unnamed operator has additional options at its disposal to expand the rig’s assignment beyond the firm scope.

Capable of drilling in water depths up to 10,000 feet, the 2012-built drillship is engineered for harsh environments, with advanced winterization protection for cold-weather operations.

Recently, Westwood highlighted that the supply, demand, and utilization for drillships would pick up the pace in 2026 in the U.S. Gulf.

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