Dolphin Drilling’s deep-water-capable semi-submersible drilling rig, Blackford Dolphin, has begun a $154m (Nkr1.71bn), 14-month drilling contract with Oil India, an oil and gas company.
Awarded in March 2024, the contract covers a three-well campaign with an optional seven-month extension.
The Blackford Dolphin rig left Nigerian waters on 1 July 2024 and arrived in Indian waters in October.
The rig completed customs clearance and client acceptance procedures following its arrival.
Dolphin Drilling CEO Bjørnar Iversen said: “We are excited to announce the start of Blackford Dolphin’s operations in India. This contract not only signifies our return to the Indian market but also demonstrates our ability to secure long-term, profitable contracts in key growth markets.”
Dolphin Drilling previously operated in the Indian offshore sector through a partnership with Dynamic Drilling, an Indian offshore drilling contractor.
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By GlobalDataIversen added: “Blackford Dolphin has once again returned to India to commence a long-term drilling campaign, and our ambition is that the rig will stay in the region for the long term, not only due to the contract’s option period but also in line with India’s ambitious energy goals. This aligns well with India’s rapidly growing energy needs as the country aims to significantly increase its domestic production of hydrocarbons, reducing its dependency on imported energy and enhancing its energy security.”
In addition to the Blackford Dolphin rig contract, Dolphin Drilling secured a long-term contract from Harbour Energy for another semi-submersible rig, the Paul B. Loyd, Jr.
The Paul B. Loyd, Jr. rig will stay in the UK sector with the firm period until February 2028.
