TotalEnergies books Shelf Drilling rig for work up to August 2026

TotalEnergies EP Denmark, a subsidiary of France’s TotalEnergies, has handed out a long-term deal to a jack-up rig owned by Shelf Drilling, an offshore drilling contractor. This rig has worked for the French oil major since October 2022 and will do so until August 2026.

The new 17-month contract for the Shelf Drilling Winner jack-up rig has a value of approximately $68 million. This deal also comes with two seven-month options.

Since the planned start-up of operations is set for March 2025, in direct continuation of the rig’s current work in Denmark, the rig is anticipated to be available in August 2026.

With a maximum drilling depth of 35,000 feet and a water depth of 400 ft, the 2014-built Shelf Drilling Winner rig is of Friede & Goldman JU-3000N design and can accommodate 150 people.

The jack-up has been working for TotalEnergies in Denmark since October 2022. Last month, the rig spudded a well in the Harald East area.

If these activities bring more hydrocarbons, the gas will be exported through the Tyra East facilities and the well could be put into production by the end of 2024.

Recently, Shelf Drilling won a drilling assignment for another jack-up off the coast of West Africa, following a new contract for work on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).