Nigeria-based indigenous offshore drilling firm Seawolf Oilfields has agreed to supply one of its three jack up rigs to the American oil firm ExxonMobil, as part of a two-year contract term.
Both the companies have signed a contract, worth N22bn ($140m), which calls for Seawolf to supply its JU Oritsetimeyin jack up rig by the third quarter of 2013.
Remi Okulola, Seawolf co-founder and executive director, said that the deal marks ExxonMobil’s support of the Nigerian Government’s policy to improve indigenous content in the country’s oil and gas business.
"ExxonMobil has with this measure again proven its commitment to the local content initiative and there are few more worthy contractors to enjoy this support," said Okiloa.
Okulola added that the contract is a testament for the company to demonstrate how indigenous players are operating offshore oil fields and earning the support of major global oil and gas firms.
ExxonMobil will commence the work using the rig, following a revamping of its safety, environment and operational requirements.
JU Oritsetimeyin was built by Seawolf in 2009 as a 300ft independent cantilever jack-up rig, which earlier worked for Total Exploration, drilling a total of six wells for the company.
The other two Seawolf’s rigs – JU Onome and JU Delta Queen – are supplied to Addax Petroleum and Conoil Producing respectively.
