Valaris jack-up rig almost ready for its new assignment with Shell

Offshore drilling contractor Valaris has revealed that one of its jack-up rigs is in the process of wrapping up preparations in Singapore for its new contract with Brunei Shell Petroleum, a subsidiary of the UK-headquartered oil major Shell.

While welcoming the new hires joining the Valaris 115 jack-up rig crew, Valaris reported that the rig was coming to the end of its shipyard project in Singapore. According to the offshore drilling contractor, the rig will shortly be departing for Brunei to start operations for Brunei Shell Petroleum. 

Commenting on this, Luke Buscada, Manager QHSE, remarked: “During the shipyard project, our new crew members completed the offshore orientation, where they received training in basic first aid, working at heights, emergency escape, and safe systems of work. We are extremely proud of our team for their tireless efforts and dedication to ensuring that the Valaris 115 is in excellent shape for this exciting new chapter.”

As a reminder, Brunei Shell Petroleum hired the rig for a four-year contract offshore Brunei last year and the deal with a total contract value of approximately $159 million is expected to start in April 2023. Previously, the rig worked for Mubadala Petroleum in Thailand from February 2022 to November 2022.

The 2013-built Valaris 115 heavy-duty modern jack-up rig is of BM Pacific Class 400 design and can accommodate 150 people. The rig’s maximum drilling depth is 30,000 ft.

“We wish everyone the best for the upcoming campaign and look forward to a safe and productive operation,” says Valaris.

Regarding Valaris’ recent activities, it is worth noting that the rig owner revealed a robust performance during the fourth quarter of 2022.

In addition, the firm kicked off 2023 with new contracts and extensions for its rig fleet in West Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Trinidad.