Italian Operator to Continue Activity of Perro Negro 7 Jack-Up Unit
Italian oilfield services provider Saipem has been awarded two new offshore drilling contracts in the Middle East and in the Mediterranean worth a combined US$550 million.
In the Middle East, Saipem was awarded an extension on an existing 10-year contract to continue the activity of its Perro Negro 7 jack-up drilling unit from the second half of 2023. The Perro Negro 7 unit with its 72-metre-long hull can operate in up to 375 feet of water and drill up to 9,100 metres.
“The 10-year extension is a record duration in the area, which in the past had only been granted to an international contractor on limited occasions, and further strengthens Saipem's strategic positioning in the drilling segment,” Saipem said in a statement.
In the Mediterranean, the Italian firm has secured a contract from an unnamed company for the utilization of a Scarabeo 9 semisubmersible unit.
The six-month contract includes an optional extension period.
The Scarabeo 9 is a sixth-generation semisubmersible drilling rig equipped with a dual ram rig and can operate in ultra-deep water at depths of up to 12,000 feet.
“The acquisition of this contract confirms Saipem's solid positioning in the Mediterranean drilling market, an area which has been characterized over the years by appreciable stability and is expected to be able to contribute to keeping fleet utilization rates high,” it said.
Saipem is involved in the engineering, drilling, and construction of projects in the onshore and offshore energy and infrastructure sectors. The company has nine fabrication yards and an offshore fleet of 29 construction vessels – 26 owned and 3 owned by third parties and managed by Saipem – and 15 drilling rigs, of which 8 owned.
Saipem is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network, an extensive networking platform for executives operating at the top end of the project supply chain in sectors such as oil and gas, energy and renewables, mining and minerals, construction, forestry, industrial manufacturing and aerospace.
The next in-person meet-up for BGSN members will be at Breakbulk Americas 2023, taking place on 26-28 September at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
