Further to a report in last week’s Gulf of Mexico Activity Report, jackup Rowan EXL-III is now scheduled to move to Grand Isle Block 16 for a three-well completion sublet with Energy XXI. The rig, which is under contract with McMoRan O&G through May 2012, completed the first well of that contract in May, but has been waiting on location in Brazos Block A-23 waiting on permit approval for the second well. Rowan hopes to be able to begin its second well with McMoRan upon completion of the Energy XXI work.
Pemex has opened bids for jackup tender 509-11, with KCA Deutag and Diamond Offshore emerging as the low bidders. KCA jackup Ben Loyal was confirmed for a 759-day program starting August 15, while Diamond Offshore jackup Ocean Summit was the low bidder for a 985-day contract starting February 23, 2012. The final contract awards will be confirmed on June 28. The Ben Loyal completed a contract with Pemex in April and is now in Brownsville undergoing a five-year survey and overhaul program. The Ocean Summit began a 289-day contract with Pemex in March, with completion scheduled for December 31.
Nabors Offshore newbuild inland barge Nabors BR-150 has begun its first contract since being delivered in April. The rig is now on location in the Kent Bayou area for a 30-day well with Forza Operating. Meanwhile, previously idle barge Coastal Rig 20 is also now back to work, starting a 15-day completion with Phoenix Exploration, with a second completion yet to be decided on.
Transocean Offshore drillship Discoverer Spirit is preparing to depart the US Gulf for wells off Liberia and Sierra Leone. The rig, which is under contract with Anadarko to April 2014, will drill one well at each location before beginning a 120-day sublet with Chevron off Liberia in November. Upon completion, the rig is currently scheduled to return to the US Gulf in March 2012. Semi Transocean Amirante has secured a 300-day contract with Burullus Gas for work off Egypt starting in August. The rig is currently completing the final well of its contract with Eni Operating in Mississippi Canyon and is scheduled to depart the region in mid-July. The new work makes the rig next available in June 2012.
Spud can inspections have been completed on jackup ENSCO 86 in West Cameron Block 317. The rig is now waiting on weather in nearby Block 310 to return to its contract with Apache, which runs through August.